MORRIS COUNTY — Residents of Morris County should be aware of a recent election law change regarding unaffiliated voters.

The change in law, N.J.S.A 19:23-45, states that unaffiliated voters who automatically receive a mail-in ballot for all future elections will not receive a mail-in ballot for the Primary Election. Voters must affiliate themselves with either the Democratic or Republican Party, stated the clerk’s office.

The deadline to declare a party, Democratic or Republican, is Wednesday, April 12.

The letter sent to all unaffiliated voters:

NOTICE TO UNAFFILIATED VOTERS

You are receiving this notice because you have been identified as an unaffiliated voter, meaning a voter who is not affiliated with any political party, has requested a mail-in ballot, or is listed as receiving mail-in ballots for all future elections. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:23-45, an unaffiliated voter shall not receive a mail-in ballot for a Primary Election unless that voter declares a political party affiliation. To vote in the Primary Election of the Democratic or Republican Party by mail-in ballot, you must be affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party and not remain an unaffiliated voter.

To receive a mail-in ballot for the 2023 Primary Election, please declare your affiliation with either the Democratic or Republican Party by completing, signing, and returning the enclosed political party affiliation declaration form found on the other side of this letter to the Board of Elections County Commissioner of Registration or your Municipal Clerk. The political party affiliation declaration form must be completed and returned by April 12, 2023, to receive a mail-in ballot for the Primary Election. If you do not declare a party by April 12, 2023, you will not receive a mail-in ballot and will remain unaffiliated.

Finally, please be advised that an unaffiliated voter may still vote in a Primary Election by voting in person during the Early Voting period or on Election Day for either the Democratic or Republican Party. After an unaffiliated voter votes in-person in the Democratic or Republican Party Primary Election, the voter will be affiliated with that political party.

The completed form can be returned to us via:

Online: www.voter.svrs.nj.gov/register

Email: elections@co.morris.nj.us

Fax: 973-285-5208

Mail: Morris County Board of Elections PO Box 900 Morristown, NJ 07963-0900

In Person: Morris County Board of Elections Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; 10 Court Street – 2nd Floor Morristown, NJ 07960

For questions, call (973) 285-6715.

MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced the launch of her fifth annual Congressional Art Competition for NJ-11 students. The competition allows high school students to showcase their creativity and artistic expression.

“New Jersey’s 11th District is home to so many incredible young artists,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Each year, I am impressed with all of our students’ submissions. The Congressional Art Competition is a great way to come together to celebrate their hard work. I look forward to seeing the artwork and encourage each high school to participate.”

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent nationwide and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panel judges select the winning entries. The winner’s artwork will be displayed alongside winners from nationwide for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

Artwork submitted for NJ-11’s competition will be displayed at an art show and reception at Montclair State University on May 4. The winner will be announced at this reception.

Due to limitations of gallery space, NJ-11 high schools can select up to two students’ work to submit, and their art must be dropped off at Rep. Sherrill’s District Office. The deadline to submit is April 21. Rep. Sherrill’s office is 8 Wood Hollow Road, Parsippany, NJ, 07054. Click here to view the full guidelines and information about the Congressional Art Competition.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Highlands Coalition announced the availability of grants of up to $5,000 for local citizens’ groups fighting to protect the natural or cultural resources of the Highlands.

Past funding has supported groups opposing unwise development proposals such as million-square-foot warehouses on prime farmland or trying to prevent the logging of large trees in maturing forests that store atmospheric carbon and serve as the best defense against climate change.

Applications for the 2023 Small Grants Program must be received by June 1.

Grants will be presented on October 11 at the N.J. Highlands Coalition’s 2023 Annual Meeting.

“Our Small Grants Program is one of the unique strengths of the Highlands Coalition,” said Julia Somers, executive director. “We work at the state and regional levels, but most members of our coalition are from local grassroots groups who are in touch with breaking issues in their communities. They’re our early warning system.”

The grants can also go to historical projects that include “brick-and-mortar” projects for specific historic sites or districts. This is the seventeenth year of the Coalition’s Small Grants Program for environmental projects and the ninth year for projects that protect cultural, historical, and archaeological resources in the Highlands, an important part of the Highlands Regional Master Plan.

Grassroots organizations are non-governmental organizations with a total annual operating budget of less than $200,000. The organization doesn’t need to be incorporated. To be eligible to apply for a grant, an organization must become a member of the Coalition, but dues are as low as $20 a year. Grants from the Highlands Coalition cannot be used for political purposes.

A grassroots group may apply for one or more grants, either environmental, cultural or components of both. But the total amount requested by any organization cannot exceed $5,000.

Projects covered by the grant should meet at least one of the following five criteria, with the items at the top getting more weight than those below:

1. Projects that focus on developing a stronger Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) and/or implementation of the RMP. For example, projects that identify, map, or verify mapped Highlands natural or cultural resources or monitor the implementation of RMP standards at the local level; projects that advocate for and result in municipal conformance with the RMP;

2. Projects that would establish a precedent, advancing strong environmental or cultural protection in the Highlands. For example, hiring a consultant to help achieve the most environmentally protective decision by NJDEP, the Highlands Council, or other regulatory bodies on a Highlands matter or for meeting local affordable housing needs;

3. Projects that may not help set a precedent but would assist an organization in to fight against development in the Highlands Region – such as residential, commercial, agribusiness projects, etc. – that seriously threatens or damages natural or cultural resources in the Region;

4. Projects that support capacity building of Highlands Region grassroots organizations, for example, a membership mailing, a strategic planning exercise, a workshop, conference or public educational event, etc.;

5. Projects that educate about Highlands water and resources and/or increase public awareness of the use and conservation of Highlands water.

Applicants are advised to view the full guidelines for the program on the Coalition’s website, particularly for cultural and historic grant components with very detailed requirements. Go to www.njhighlandscoalition.org/small-grants for more information. To join the Coalition, click “Donate,” check “Make this gift on behalf of an organization,” and join with your $20.00 (non-voting) or $30.00 (voting) membership contribution.

Applicants seeking more information are encouraged to contact Julia Somers at (973) 588-7190 or julia@njhighlandscoalition.org.

The New Jersey Highlands Coalition represents a diverse network of organizations working to protect the Highlands, ranging from small citizen groups working in one community to large state-wide organizations. The Coalition works to protect, enhance and restore the New Jersey Highlands and to preserve the quality and quantity of the region’s drinking water upon which 6.2 million people depend. More information is available at www.njhighlandscoalition.org.