Hudson County Assignment Judge Jeffrey Jablonski will allow a Hudson County man who submitted his voter registration on October 16 to vote in this year’s election, relaxing a statutory deadline to prevent him from being disenfranchised.
The man, whose name is being withheld by the New Jersey Globe, testified that he moved from Illinois to Hudson County in May to accept a temporary position and learned his job would be permanent on October 1. He told Jablonski that he didn’t know when New Jersey’s deadline was October 15 when he registered one day later.
“But for one day, he would have otherwise been eligible to register to vote,” Jablonski said. “I believe the constitutional principles that guarantee his right to cast his vote override the limited reading of the (statute).”
Jablonski entered an order to permit the man to vote.
“Regardless of what side you’re on, this is one of the most consequential elections in any of our lifetimes,” he said. “I feel that it’s my right as an American citizen to vote.”
Deputy Attorney General Egle Dykhne opposed granting permission of the Hudson man to vote.
The decision amplifies why voters can appear before a judge and advocate against their potential disenfranchisement.
Henal Patel, the law and policy director at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, wants same-day voter registration to eliminate issues like this.
“Why are we turning away eligible voters? Year after year, New Jersey disenfranchises voters because of our arbitrary 21-day registration deadline,” Patel said. “It’s shameful and unnecessary. It is long past time for us to join the over 20 states that have same-day voter registration.”
If you are not allowed to vote or feel incorrectly pushed to vote on a provisional ballot when you’re entitled to vote on the machine, you can present your case to a Superior Court Judge to determine your eligibility to vote. Judges will be on call for each of the nine days of early voting; hearings are done remotely, and you can attend a hearing via Zoom from your phone at a polling location.
Voters should not readily accept being turned away. Ask to speak to the person in charge, known as the Super Poll Worker, the individual who is most fluent in ways that can help you vote.
If you intend to appear before an election judge, you may call the ACLU Voter Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or contact your county election officials. Click HERE for a list.