“… wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”
Thomas Jefferson, 1789
Jefferson knew the cornerstone to being able to solve problems was being properly educated to understand those problems and see the solutions. This remains true for today’s voters, who must select those who will represent them in municipal, county and state government on Nov. 3.
Shining a light on the problems and on the people who aspire to solve them is not an easy task, but it’s one the League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area takes on each year.
This election season the local league, thanks to the efforts of members Chrystal Shivell, Patricia Casey Connolly and Sandy Smith, has provided candidate questions and answers for many of the local races, which The Packet has printed in this issue and the previous two issues. The questions and responses are also available on the league’s website (lwvprinceton.org) and on centraljersey.com.
The league has also sponsored a series of candidate forums, for local and state legislative offices, giving voters the opportunity to see incumbents and challengers answer questions before an audience in a non-partisan setting. Unfortunately, a forum presenting candidates for Princeton Council was canceled because Republican candidates declined to participate.
Through its efforts to educate, and its efforts to register voters, the league does its best to fight the trend of low voter turnouts, especially in elections where there are no national and statewide candidates on the ballot. The Oct. 13 voter registration deadline has passed, so it’s up to those of us who are registered to exercise our democratic franchise and cast ballots in November.
If we cannot get to the polls, there is still time to submit a mail-in ballot up to seven days before Election Day. The league’s website has information on how to obtain and submit a mail-in ballot.
The local league is in need of women and men who are willing to volunteer their time to assist in the task of keeping the electorate informed. Visit the lwvprinceton.org to find out more about how to become involved.
