Young people are encouraged
to register, vote in all elections
To the editor:
Americans agree that it is a fundamental duty as an American citi´
zen to vote in major elections. This includes the presidential elections
every four years and midterm elections. People believe that by voting
in these elections, they are fulfilling their duty to America in selecting
its leaders and representatives on the federal, state, and local levels.
Voting is a fundamental right that is guaranteed to American citizens.
This right, though ever present, has lost its luster over the years.
Many young adults do not see the voting system as worthwhile, and the
number of voters in national elections has hovered at around 50 to 60
percent of the population. Primary elections, like the one just held in
our town, generally have even more abysmal voter turnouts.
People turning 18 should definitely register to vote, even if they
feel like their voice doesn’t matter, for it truly won’t if you don’t cast
your vote. It is imperative that young adults do this, for there is current´
ly a trend away from voting in younger generations. Many do not be´
lieve in the current political system, and have therefore lost faith in the
power of the vote. It is essential to the survival of our basic American
ideals of government that this changes, lest voting diminish further and
possibly even vanish in our nation.
Primary elections are crucial to the American political system.
Many American voters only vote in the “major” elections, which one
could argue fulfills the duty as a citizen and voter. However, this would
only be a basic and bare minimum fulfillment. Many voters focus on
getting their favored party elected, but this could be easier if they cast a
vote to decide the representative of that party running for office. By
helping to select the representative of their party, voters can help to
shape out how an election goes.
Moderates can vote in primaries to help ensure that a moderate can´
didate is selected in an attempt to win over other voters. More enthusi´
astic voters can vote for more conservative, liberal, or otherwise less
moderate candidates in an attempt to further their beliefs in the governmental system.
In essence, the power of the vote may not have diminished, but the
faith the average American places in it has. This trend must come to an
end, and this can be fixed through larger voter turnout and more frequent voting in elections. In doing so, people have their opinion count,
but they also do the nation a service by fulfilling one of their duties as
an American citizen.
Bradley Zdroik
Hillsborough
How effective is much money
when it comes to campaign ads?
To the editor:
Each year in mid-spring, New Jersey’s election season slowly
cranks into action for the June primary. This year, all 80 seats of New
Jersey’s state Assembly are up for re-election and nearly 200 total Republicans and Democrats plan on running for these positions.
In District 16, incumbents Jack Ciattarelli and Donna Simon are
among the masses seeking re-election into office. Both are running
unopposed in the primary. However, in the upcoming months, residents
of Hillsborough will be blasted with a plethora of advertisements and
signs both promoting and tarnishing our current Assembly members.
Two years ago, Jack Ciattarelli and Donna Simon faced off against
Democratic candidates Marie Corfield and Ida Ochoteco — a battle
that was quite closely contended. Throughout the fall of 2013, Hillsborough citizens faced an unusually high amount of advertisements attacking members of the Republican ticket. They were literally everywhere: YouTube, local television stations, mail pamphlets — the list
goes on.
The amount of negative campaigning done by the losing party was
so extensive that one would begin to question how much money is
going into the campaign ads themselves, and more importantly, why is
this money being used for such an ineffective purpose?
Money has a large role in elections. This isn’t anything new. How´
ever, when such vast amounts of money begin trickling down to smaller-scale elections, especially attack advertisements — this is when
things become rather perplexing. Local and state governments ought
not to follow the example set by those participating in national govern´
ment elections. In terms of campaigning, negative ads in a local setting
where people often know the candidates themselves may have an oppo´
site effect. Every time I heard the name Jack Ciattarelli while waiting
for the five seconds on a Youtube ad to pass, I was encouraged to re´
search him, not the candidates who sponsored the advertisement.
Needless to say, I walked into the polls much more informed than I
would’ve been before seeing the ad.
Fellow Hillsboroughians, when the advertisements inevitably begin
pouring out at an alarming rate, remember two things: think of the
money that these campaign ads could alternatively be used for, and,
more importantly, conduct your own research on each candidate before
you make a final decision.
To candidates, focus on selling yourself before directly using money to
criticize your opponents because in reality, you never know exactly what
each individual citizen is listening for.
Joel Cockburn
Hillsborough
Students should have their wishes
considered when choosing graduation site
To the editor:
When it was announced last year that the class of 2014 would graduate off campus, there was a considerable outpouring of emotion. The
class of 2014 overwhelmingly expressed their sincere sadness at not
having the opportunity to graduate on the hallowed turf they had spent
so much of the last for years of their lives on. Many students freely
voiced this opinion, as was seen in the high school’s newspaper, the
Voice. The class of 2015 stood by and watched on, equally as concerned as
the class of 2014, but not yet fully invested or able to comprehend the
magnitude of the situation.
In the year since the class of 2014’s graduation ceremony, the class
of 2015 had the chance to come to terms with the fact they would not
be graduating on the home football field. Then the day came when it
was revealed that scheduling issues with an off-campus arena meant
graduation would officially happen back on the football field as tradition dictates. The resulting excitement from the students is exemplary
of exactly why graduation needs to be on campus. Moreover, the basic
principle of making the decision to move graduation made it very clear
that absolutely no consideration was given to the students. No one
considered that Hillsborough High School will forever be an important
milestone in each of the student’s lives. No one considered how the full
feeling of accomplishment and closure on graduation day is lost when
graduation is not at Hillsborough High School. Every student is entitled
to having graduation at their school and these truths should always
triumph ease or whatever convenience an offsite location could give the
administration.
The Board of Education would argue I am not considering all the
facts. The Board would defend the benefits of hosting graduation off
campus. These benefits admittedly include, but are not limited to, the
absence of a cap on the number family members invited and, more
importantly, protection from the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
But maybe it’s been just one too many years since the board members
thought back to their graduation day on their turf and remembered
just how important that moment was for them.
Whether or not the board follows through with the plan to officially
make graduation off campus a new tradition, I hope for the students’
sake the Board of Education realizes what kind of mistake that would
be.
Kat Ello
Hillsborough
Democratic candidates thank their voters
To the editor:
We sincerely thank the primary voters of Hillsborough for choosing
us as the two Democratic candidates for Hillsborough Township Committee.
As longtime residents, we are motivated to represent Hillsborough
residents because we want to participate in the decisions that affect our
multi-generational and ethnically diverse community. It is important
that your community representatives understand your needs and articulate
a clear plan for the future that is well reasoned, supports our businesses,
promotes our well-being by protecting our farms, parks, recreational areas,
and open spaces.
We look forward to talking with residents over the coming months
to learn what we can do so that our seniors can afford to remain in
Hillsborough, families will continue to enjoy raising children here, and
our local businesses are supported. We believe that our educational
background, work experiences and approach to decision-making will
provide a good balance to the current Township Committee members.
Ann Harris and Laurie Poppe
Hillsborough