Newark NJ Branch NAACP 2021 Spring Newsletter w/Bonus

NewarkNAACPNews Spring2021 Vol.4

All over this country African American Civil Rights Organizations, Houses of Worship, Sororities, Fraternities, Professional Organizations, mobilized, organized, educated, strategized, and encouraged every eligible person of color to register to vote and plan to vote. “When We Fight, We Win.”

“Up you mighty race, accomplish what you will.”

I chose this quote by Marcus Garvey because I thought it was apropos for this time. I am so proud of African Americans from all over this country who “showed Up and showed Out” on November 3, 2020: despite COVID-19; despite voter suppression; despite reducing the number of polling places; despite long lines; despite voter intimidation; despite criminalizing of voter registration drives; despite disguised poll taxes; and despite flawed voter roll purges. There was so much at stake, we had to show the power of the Black Vote.

Inside This Issue African Americans Save US Democracy p. 1 Newark NJ NAACP Branch Leaders p. 2 SPECIAL INSERT! 2021 Voter’s Guide Membership Form p. 3

Black folks “showed Up and showed Out” when Georgia held its runoff elections for two US Senate seats on January 5, 2021. The success of this election was fueled by the passion of Stacy Abrams who organized and registered more than 800,000 Georgia voters in two years. She focused on getting the underrepresented registered and to the polls. They showed up first for President Biden’s win and then for Senator Warnock and Senator Ossof’s win. Senators Warnock and Ossoff are both Democrats and their wins have led the Democratic Party to control the United States Senate.

I applaud our accomplishments, we not only voted in a new president, we voted out an administration who was dismantling democracy.

President Biden said of Black Voters: “You’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours.” It started in South Carolina with Representative James Clyburn, who helped propel President Biden to the Democratic nomination. It is documented, African Americans, made the difference and saved American Democracy. We are the conscience of America. We must continue to “Lift Every Voice and VOTE!” OUR VOTE IS OUR VOICE! In Solidarity and Strength, Kathleen Turpin Merritt, 1st Vice President

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NewarkNJ NAACP Branch Leaders

Deborah Smith Gregory President

Kathleen Turpin Merritt 1st Vice President

Adaneka Witter Judge Ass’t. Secretary

Cheryl Bush Edwards Treasurer

Ali McBride Civic Engagement Co-Chairperson

Debra J. Chandler Civic Engagement Co-Chairperson

Rick Robinson Criminal Justice Co-Chairperson

Tara W. Harrington

Dr. Leah Z. Owens Education Chairperson

Brian Ray Environmental Justice Chairperson

Lisa Maddox Douglas Labor & Industry Chairperson

Joyce M. Simmons Life Membership Chairperson

Judith Favors Religious Affairs Chairperson

Cherise Dawson Health Chairperson

Natalia Harper

Minister Keisha Peterson

Cynthia Truitt Rease

Economic Development Co-Chairperson

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Lavita E. Johson 2nd Vice President

Health Co-Chairperson

John Smith 3rd Vice President

Not Shown: Linda Campbell Aaron, Richard Cammarieri, Dr. Marilyn Cooper, Velyvia McIver, Matthew Robinson, Dadisi Sanyika

Robin Pulliam Secretary

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Your Government and You! ~ A Refresher Inside this issue is a special Citizen’s Guide For Election 2021

Government is an integral part of our lives. Governments establish rules and regulations, define the rights and duties of individuals, provide protection, give assistance and provide services to individuals and groups by legal authority given by the people who vote.

OUR WEBSITE HAS A NEW NAME!!!

We have moved from

NewarkNAACP.org.

If you are looking for us, you must visit us at

http://www.NAACPnewark.org

We are working on making our website more friendly, informative and interactive!

Donations can be made on our website and you can become a member of the Newark Branch #2093. Stay tuned!!

We want to hear from you!!

Also visit us @NewarkNJNAACP on Facebook, @Newarknaacp on Instagram email: Newarknaacp@gmail.com or contact us at 973-624-6400.

The spirit of Democracy demands a fourth branch of government to be just as active as the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches.

What is the fourth branch of government? Like the fans at a game who become the extra player that encourages, and urges the team to play harder to win.....

YOU THE CITIZEN !!! YOU THE VOTER !! YOU THE PARTICIPATOR!!

Your major right and duty is to be an informed VOTER and to VOTE in every election. You have the right to expect good government but you also have the responsibility to make it work by participating . When you see a problem, it is your responsibility to say something via phone, letter, email or a visit to your representative. If there is a problem on your block, gather your neighbors to make a difference.

Your activism has the power to make your community, city, state and country provide a better quality of life. Democracy is an active sport!

Spectators have no say about the game.

Our Call to Action~Become an Activist Who Votes!

We hope you find the The Citizen’s Guide useful for the 2021 Election Cycle.

NAACPNewarkNJ

LIGHTHOUSE For Civic Engagement

A Newark Citizen’s Guide to the 2021 NJ State Elections

Spring 2021

W E L C O M E The NAACP Newark, NJ Branch through its Civic Engagement Committee is pleased to present “A Newark Citizen’s Guide to the 2021 NJ State Elections.” This is the first in a series of publications to provide useful information about the 2021 election cycle in the Garden State.

Historically, voter participation in local elections is much lower than during the national presidential election. Our goal is to provide the tools to help us better understand the vital role local government plays in our lives. An informed voter is an engaged and active participant beyond Election Day. This edition

of the citizen’s guide will cover the organization and structure of New Jersey’s state government, information about the April Newark Public School Board election, online voter registration and the 2021 election timeline.

One of our most influential powers as citizens is exercising our right to vote. However, with this power comes a civic responsibility to understand how our government, at the federal, state, and local level operates; to be knowledgeable about issues impacting our lives and the positions of individuals seeking to serve and address them through our vote. We hope you will find this information useful.

On February 8th Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey will return to in-person voting for the April 20th school board elections. Last year, all voting for the Newark Board of Education was done via mail to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

A RETURN TO THE POLLS for the

April Newark School Board Election

There are three At-Large seats open on the Board. The Newark Board of Education is made up of nine members who are elected to serve in three year intervals.

According to the District’s website, as of December 2019, The Newark Public School District was comprised of 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student

VOTER ALERT!

We are still in a pandemic and voting in the April 20th school board election will be different this year.

There will be in person voting but less polling sites. There will be multiple districts in one location. All in- person voting will be recorded via a paper ballot which will be optically scanned.

Voting Machines will not be used.

Make sure you read your ballot for voting information and where to vote.

You can also request an application to vote by mail no later than April 13 at essexclerk.com.

Although everyone had to vote by mail in the November 2020 election, if you are not on the permanent vote -by- mail listing, you must apply for an application if you want to vote by mail again. You may want to really consider voting by mail since it was successfully used in the last election.

If you choose to vote by mail, the drop boxes can still be used along with the US Postal Service. Voting by mail is convenient and easy.

population of 35,329.

The annual operating budget is over one billion dollars. The Board serves as the link between the classroom and the community.

They decide how and what students are learning by setting policies, curriculums and budgets for the school district. They are responsible for the hiring of the chief school administrator (superintendent) whose directive is to implement the policies.

Annual School Board Primary & General Election Timelines Inside 01

APRIL

2021

ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION TIMELINE & INFORMATION

VOTER ALERT! There are 4 seats open for the Newark School Board. You will be asked to vote for 3 members to serve a 3-year term and 1 member to serve a 1-year term.

The Newark Board of Education Budget will also be on the ballot. It is a two- part question. Read it carefully.

PUBLIC QUESTION:

RESOLVED,

that there should be raised for General Funds $138,314,942 in 2021- 22 for the ensuing School Year (2021-22).

This year the (local tax share) will actually decrease by $21.00 for taxpayers.

The school budget must be approved by the voters in order for the schools to plan for the upcoming school year. We encourage you to vote YES!!

The Organization

of New Jersey State Government The State of New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies and was the third state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787.

New Jersey’s governmental structure is similar to the federal model, with three separate branches of government

REGISTER TO VOTE @ www.essexclerk.gov

02 CITIZEN’S GUIDE | SPRING 2021

– a Legislative Branch, a Judicial Branch and an Executive Branch.

New Jersey voters who elect both the members of the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch are placed at the top of the State’s organization chart.

About NJ

State Government Source https://www.nj.gov/nj/gov/understand/

Executive Branch

The chief of the Executive Branch is the governor, who is elected every four years to a four-year term. A governor cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

Constitutionally, New Jersey’s governor is one of the most powerful in the United States. In addition to overseeing the departments, agencies boards and commissions that make up the Executive Branch, the governor signs bills into law and can call the legislature into special session. The governor has the power to grant pardons and is the only person with the authority to call in the National Guard.

The heads of state agencies are appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate before taking office. Officials appointed by the governor include the following: Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Commissioners of the Departments of Banking and Insurance, Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Environmental Protection, Health and Senior Services, Human Services, Labor and Workforce Development, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation.

The governor appoints Judges (including the State Supreme Court), County Prosecutors, County Boards of Election and Taxation, and members of various Boards and Commissions.

Constitutionally, New Jersey’s governor is one of the most powerful in the United States.”

Legislative Branch

The New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly make up the Legislative Branch. The Senate has 40 members, and the General Assembly has 80 members.

One senator and two assembly members are elected from each of the 40 districts of New Jersey. The Legislature’s main job is to enact laws. The Legislature can also propose amendments to the New Jersey Constitution.

The leader of the Senate is the Senate President. The Speaker of the General Assembly heads that body. The President and the Speaker schedule meetings and determine which bills will be considered within their respective houses. They also lead the legislative sessions.

While both houses introduce and vote on bills, the Senate and Assembly have individual powers, too. The Senate approves the governor’s appointees to official positions. The Assembly can bring impeachment charges, but the Senate is the court of impeachment in New Jersey, where the charges are tried. Any bills requiring revenue to be raised start out in the Assembly. But, by custom, the Senate handles the state budget.

“The Legislature’s main job is to enact laws.”

Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch decides how state laws should be applied. The governor appoints judges to the Supreme and Superior courts with the Senate’s approval.

The judges serve seven-year terms, but after they have been re-appointed once, they can serve until they are 70 years old.

The highest court in the Judiciary Branch is the state Supreme Court. This court hears cases involving constitutional problems and other major matters. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices. The chief justice investigates complaints against the courts, supervises the clerks and court workers, and oversees the court finances.

The state Superior Court is divided into the Appellate, Law, and Chancery divisions. Superior Court is where most trials take place. The Appellate Division hears appeals of decisions from lower courts and state agencies. The Law Division hears cases in its Criminal Division and Civil Division. The Chancery Division consists of a General Equity Division and Family Division. General Equity cases involve matters such as contracts. The Family Division deals with family and children’s legal matters.

SPRING 2021 | CITIZEN’S GUIDE

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ONLINE

Voter Registration NOW AVAILABLE @

elections.nj.gov

New Jersey citizens can now register to vote using the Division of Elections’ first online voter registration tool. The platform for online registration allows registering voters to provide their information electronically. Previously, those registering to vote needed to print, sign, and mail a registration form.

Voters can find the tool by selecting “Register to Vote!” on the Division of Elections website (elections.nj.gov).

According to the Division of Elections, since its launch on Friday September 4, 2020, the online voter registration tool has been used to successfully register 12,858 voters.

“With the launch of online voter registration, New Jersey has expanded access to our democracy,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way, New Jersey’s top election official. “Especially as we face this ongoing pandemic, we are committed to reducing barriers that may prevent potential voters from participating in our elections.”

Source: state.nj.us

2021 PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION VOTER TIMELINE

VOTER ALERT!

This year in the State of New Jersey election, you will vote for your Governor, all NJ Assembly members (80) all NJ Senators (40) and in Essex County, you will vote for your Sheriff.

Don’t stand on the sidelines!!

Be an active VOTER because who we VOTE for impacts our lives and our families.

OUR VOTE, OUR VOICE Guide compiled by Debra J. Chandler, Civic Engagement Committee Co-Chairperson Designed by MLD CommunicationsRev. J-Anthony & Madelin Dargan | Phone: (973) 783-6198 | Email: mldcomm.com

www.newarknaacp.org