MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Elections Provide Three Ways to Vote The League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area (League) wants voters to know the 2023 General Election is here.

This year, New Jersey will elect all Senators and Assembly persons, select County Commissioners, and some municipal and Boards of Education representatives.

There are three ways to vote in New Jersey: Early In-Person; Vote-By-Mail; and In-Person on Election Day.

1) Early In-Person – Weekends were made for voting! There’s no need to wait to cast your vote since early in-person voting starts on Saturday, October 28, and goes through Sunday, November 5. In Morris County you can vote at any of eight polling locations from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. To find an early polling location near you, click here, the League of Women Voters one-stop shop for election information.

On Thursday, October 26, the Morristown Area League is joining thousands of nonpartisan organizations nationwide to celebrate Vote Early Day, a civic holiday created to empower Americans to share their voices by casting their ballot before Election Day. The League advocated for the passage of In-Person Early Voting in New Jersey. By providing an opportunity to vote early and in person, voters overcome barriers like long lines at polling places on Election Day, last-minute problems getting to the polls, voter disinformation, and other challenges, which can lead to voters not casting their ballots. When Americans are educated about their voting options and are given the tools to cast their ballots in a way that works for them, nothing can stop them from having their voices heard.

Last year, nearly 3,000 businesses, nonprofits, campus groups, election officials, media companies, and others came together to celebrate this civic holiday. On Vote Early Day 2022, we saw over 3,000,000 votes cast, which led to a 4.6% overall increase in the total number of Americans voting in person or by mail.

2) Vote-By-Mail
There is still time to apply for a Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballot by mailing a completed application found by clicking here. Applications for VBM ballots must be received by October 31 or delivered, in person, to your County Clerk’s office before 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6. You can check your VBM status using the NJ-Elections Track My Ballot Tool or by contacting the County Clerk at elections@co.morris.nj.us or (973) 285-6066.

Don’t wait until the last minute to return your VBM ballot! You can do so in one of three ways: place your ballot in a secure ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7 (Election Day); by mail, postmarked by November 7; or in person at the Board of Elections office, which in Morris County is located at 10 Court Street, Morristown, by 8:00 p.m. on November 7.

3) Election Day in Person For voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, find your polling location by clicking here.

If you are waiting in line at 8:00 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. Don’t leave! To learn more about candidates on your ballot, view the nonpartisan candidates’ forums on the LWV Morristown Area’s YouTube channel.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners observed October 2023 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and presented a framed proclamation to Jersey Battered Women’s Services (JBWS) President and CEO Diane Williams during the Thursday, October 12, work session meeting in Morristown.

“Every October, Morris County observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And every year, sadly we need to acknowledge that domestic violence continues to be a widespread issue. While the pandemic certainly heightened an environment for domestic abuse to occur, we can’t ignore the factors that encourage its prevalence today,” said Commissioner Director John Krickus.

“In 2022, JBWS answered 4,532 helpline calls. Financial stressors across the nation play into this, as well as mental health issues. The isolation victims experience continues to hide the issue such that cases are often underreported. And it’s hidden in that abusers and victims aren’t always obvious. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, and it ruins lives for all families involved,” he continued.

Morris County has a longstanding relationship with JBWS, which first opened its shelter doors to the community in late December 1978, according to the county.

Today, the agency has grown into a full-service, private, nonprofit domestic violence agency with programs that provide safety, support, and solutions for all survivors of abuse, according to the county

In 2016, JBWS founded the Morris Family Justice Center in partnership with the county’s Department of Human Services, Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Superior Court, Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, Morris County Bar Foundation and Morris CARES. The walk-in center on the 4th floor of the Admin and Records building provides a safer, more seamless response for families and people fleeing or seeking relief from abuse, giving them one place for counseling, protection, legal and immigration assistance, child services, and more.

This unique integration of supports doesn’t exist everywhere– Morris County’s center is only one of two in New Jersey. The model for the Family Justice Center is recognized as a best practice in the field of domestic violence by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2022, 470 adults and children received comprehensive services from multiple agencies within the Center, a statistic that has significantly increased in 2023. In just the first nine months of this year, 747 individuals have required the same level of assistance.

“It really speaks to the need in our shelter. From 2021 to 2023, we saw an 85 percent increase in the number of victims who needed shelter in Morris County. We have an incredible relationship with the county and the Commissioners, and it’s really the community that benefits from that. We are so grateful to have the Morris Family Justice Center because 747 individuals wouldn’t have had a place to go for help,” said Williams.

If a victim or survivor of dating, domestic, or partner abuse seeking support, contact the 24-Hour Helpline & Referral: 1.877.R.U.ABUSED or 1.877.782.2873

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers the option to chat or text with an advocate. Click “Chat Now” on the website or text LOVEIS to 22522.

For more information about the Morris Family Justice Center click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-Morris, is set to receive the Community Advocate accolade from Good Grief, a nonprofit dedicated to grief support and education, during their annual gala on Wednesday, October 25.

“It’s a deep honor to be acknowledged by Good Grief, especially when many of my legislative efforts, such as amplifying the number of mental health professionals and diminishing the stigma linked to mental health services, mirror the vital objectives of Good Grief,” remarked Dunn.

“Being an advocate is fundamental to my role in public service. The chance to champion the causes of New Jersey residents drives many of my initiatives in Trenton.” In a prior session, Dunn’s proposal (A3007), which mandates higher education entities to introduce students to on-campus mental health resources, was enacted.

Currently, Dunn is advocating for close to twelve bills geared towards enhancing the accessibility of mental health services, with a focus on youth, veterans, and marginalized communities. Among her proposals is a loan forgiveness initiative for child and adolescent mental health professionals, and a program assisting veterans in addressing PTSD and brain injuries. Additionally, Dunn supports a pilot scheme designed to furnish middle and high school students with resilience-building skills, along with a tuition refund program for advanced practice nurses rendering mental health services in New Jersey’s underprivileged regions.

Dunn expressed, “I wholeheartedly appreciate the strides Good Grief has made in addressing the barriers preventing many from seeking the aid they require. Collectively, I am hopeful about establishing New Jersey as a benchmark in superior mental health care provision and accessibility.”