From the League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area:
Leagues of Women Voters in Morris County
Invite Candidates to Debate this Election Season
The League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area, Mountain Lakes, and Warren and West Morris Counties have issued invitations to Morris County candidates for elected office to participate in League hosted candidate debates this election season.
For over 100 years, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters has been working to educate and inform residents about voting and the issues that impact them and their communities.
Because the League envisions a democracy where everyone has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate, it provides a number of services for residents to become more informed. A cornerstone of this effort is candidate debates.
The League of Women Voters has a long tradition of being the trusted source for fair debates at all levels of elected office from Boards of Education through Congressional and Senate races throughout Morris County.
League debate rules are designed to ensure compliance with federal and state election laws and regulations as well as national League standards for providing fair, informative and respectful platforms.
In a General Election, one such rule requires at least one more participant than the number of open seats for any debate or forum to take place, usually guaranteeing at least two parties are represented. If a candidate or party declines to participate, there can be no debate.
Despite decades of excellence and integrity, each year more and more candidates decline to participate in candidate debates. This robs voters of the opportunity to hear directly from candidates, learn about policy issues that affect their lives, and make wise voting decisions.
It also denies those running for office an opportunity to explain their policy positions and views on specific voter questions. According to NJ.com, as of June of this year, Morris County has more unaffiliated voters (134,605) than registered Democrats (100,049) or registered Republicans (129,175).
Forums inform all voters, allowing them to choose candidates who best represent their views regardless of political party.
Whether you identify politically as a Republican, Democrat, Unaffiliated, Forward, or otherwise, if you are a citizen of the United States, you have a place in our democracy and the right to vote for the candidates of your choice.
Please urge your candidates for elected office to participate in the League’s nonpartisan debates. Our democracy depends on the active participation of informed voters.
Invitations to debate were issued to candidates in the following races:
- US Congress District 11
- Morris County Commissioner
- Chatham Borough Council
- Chatham Township Committee
- Dover Board of Alderman
- East Hanover Council
- Florham Park Council
- Madison Council
- Mendham Borough Mayor
- Mendham Borough Council
- Mendham Township Committee
- Morris Plains Mayor
- Morris Plains Council
- Morris Township Committee
- Mountain Lakes Council
Forum invitations to Board of Education candidates will go out next week.
League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area
League of Women Voters of Warren and West Morris Counties
League of Women Voters of Mountain Lakes
Jeff, tell your friend that the League of Women Voters is open to men, in full membership, despite its appearance to the contrary. The leadership decided against a name change (to reflect the change in membership) because of the long-standing use of its name. You, and your friend, are most welcome to join:-)
Is there a League of Men Voters? (Asking for a friend).
Candidates who refuse to participate should have “a strike against them,” as it’s reasonable to assume they do not want to expose themselves, their positions, their views to the public whose support they are seeking, so the public should be wary of voting for them. As it is these days, mis and disinformation muddies the picture and it can be difficult for citizens to get an objective sense of where candidates stand on issues that matter to them. The League has a history of providing a nonpartisan framework for debate and its moderators are trained facilitators. In providing a safe and fair forum to educate voters, the League offers candidates a platform to make their case to the voters. Candidates should demonstrate their respect for the voters and show up.