Virgina Manzari and Rose Barkenbush of West Windsor
The time has come for election officials of Mercer and Middlesex Counties to remove voting locations from West Windsor-Plainsboro Schools because it causes “detrimental interruption.” Under NJ law, (Title 19:8-2), “Preference in locations shall be given to schools and public buildings where space shall be made available by the authorities in charge, upon request, if same can be done without detrimental interruption of school or the usual public services thereof.”
Clearly the risk associated with allowing strangers into our schools, the fact that students and teachers lose access to teaching spaces, and the increased traffic that interferes with the safe transport of our children, teachers and staff to and from school constitutes “detrimental interruption.”
Election officials refuse to make this move. Their argument that polling places must be in proximity to the majority of voters, and that schools are the only places that fulfill that requirement, does not hold water. We no longer live in farming communities where public buildings were few and far between. There are a multitude of venues – including municipal buildings, libraries, churches, fire houses, etc – scattered around town which could be used for voting. And people don’t walk to voting locations; they drive. Moreover, residents can utilize absentee voting, since NJ state law has been changed to allow any voter to vote by absentee ballot for any election, without a reason.
Simply because voting has occurred in schools for a long time is no reason to continue the practice. On the contrary, because we live in a different world than we did 20 or even 10 years ago—in our post-Columbine, post-9/11 world — our polling locations must now change. Our election officials from Middlesex and Mercer County have the authority to make this change, and they should do it now.
The board of elections has the power to change voting locations, but they have repeatedly refused when asked by individuals. However there is strength in numbers. That is why we are asking you, the residents of West Windsor and Plainsboro, to join our efforts to remove voting from the schools. Let’s make our voices heard. Please support the safety of the children, teachers and staff of WW-P Schools by emailing your election officials — Jim Vokral ([email protected]) and Dominic Magnolo ([email protected]) — today to tell them you want voting removed from our schools today.
Virginia Manzari,
Rose Barkenbush
SOS – Secure Our Schools
West Windsor
