Issues
Voting and Elections
Voting is a crucial step in ensuring decisions made in our communities reflect the interests of those who live within them. With Trenton being the capital city, this importance is evermore present. The ability to vote in council, mayoral, and statewide elections give East Trenton residents the ability to shape their community by choosing leaders who best serve the interests of the community.
The East Trenton Collaborative works to improve voter participation, as well as election and governmental transparency, here in the East Trenton community, to ensure East Trenton residents are properly represented in the decisions made in our community.
What We Have Done
East Trenton Voter Profile
In 2022, The East Trenton Collaborative out together and shared a Voter Profile, focusing on the demographics of East Trenton residents and voters. This profile revealed info on turnout rates and trends over the last decade, as well as what age groups are currently most underrepresented in the voting process. A slideshow of the profile is available below.
Voter Registration Events
It is in the best interests of East Trenton to have as many of our residents vote as possible, to ensure our voices are heard and our interests are properly considered in governmental and community decisions. The East Trenton Collaborative hopes to improve the total number of registered and engaged voters in the community by regularly hosting voter registration tables at events, as well as hold voter registration drives, with ETC members, members of the Civic Engagement Committee, and volunteers walking door-to-door to hand out voter registration forms and get residents registered. These events are held most often preceding an election cycle, such as most recently in anticipation of the 2022 General Election in November.
city officials and Candidates Forums
The East Trenton Collaborative regularly hosts, with the help of the Civic Engagement Committee, current Trenton city officials, as well as council and mayoral candidates, at virtual, community forums. The goal of these forums is to give East Trenton residents more accurate information about city candidates’ positions and beliefs, as well as create a pathway for residents to voice their concerns and ask questions to their elected officials and for officials to be more transparent with East Trenton constituents.
What Can I Do?
1. Register to vote
Getting registered to vote is the first step in being able to have your voice heard in our community’s decision-making process. Voter registration forms are available in print at the East Trenton Center, and can be requested by mail (or filled out completely online) by the State of New Jersey. Please check out New Jersey’s Division of Elections website for more info and for registration help and instructions.
2. Vote in the next upcoming election
There are a few different ways to vote in New Jersey:
Vote-by-mail: If you opted to recieve a vote-by-mail ballot, completely fill out your ballot and cast your vote by either mailing it to to Board of Elections, depositing it at a secure ballot dropbox, or returning it in-person to the Board of Elections. More info on deadlines as well as information on how to request a vote-by-mail ballot are available here.
Early in-person voting: For more information on early voting, click here.
Election Day voting: Polls are open on Election day from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Find information on polling locations here.
3. Join the Civic Enagement Committee
The Civic Engagement Committee meets once per month to discuss the next steps in what needs to get done regarding civic engagement, voter participation, and more in the East Trenton neighborhood. To get involved, contact Kurt.