Voters in West Windsor rejected a ballot question that would have turned the city’s municipal elections from nonpartisan to partisan contests, the New Jersey Globe can project.
The Mercer County town is one of about 20% of municipalities in the state to still run nonpartisan elections. The heavily contested ballot question asked voters to pick between the systems — depending on who you ask, the nonpartisan system is either a “political oasis” amid rising partisan tensions or an “unclear” and “dated” system that leaves voters in the dark.
The ballot question, supported by Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and other major Democrats, would have likely made it easier for Democrats to win election in the solid blue town.
As of 10:05 p.m., the ballot question was failing 65%-35%.
In the buildup to the referendum, two rivaling organizations have formed, each insisting that they are the true proponents of transparency, voter empowerment, and grassroots engagement.
The group behind the push for partisan elections, West Windsor Voters for Transparency and Representation, said it garnered more than 1,500 signatures from residents for the ballot measure, though signatures don’t always convert to votes. The group argues on its website that a candidate’s partisan identity is vital information voters use to guide their decision in any other election.
Leaders of the rival faction, Keep West Windsor NonPartisan, said Democratic bosses are trying to consolidate power in West Windsor, where 44% of voters are unaffiliated and 43% are registered as Democrats. Joe Charles, the group’s vice chair, said the issue for pro-partisan advocates isn’t transparency, but the fact that nonpartisan campaigns allow for the election of Republicans, independents, and Democrats who aren’t affiliated with party leaders.