Voting Rights A Focus Of Unified League of Women Voters In Monmouth

FREEHOLD, NJ — To better carry out its "mission of empowering voters and protecting democracy in our county," the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County has been created from the merger of the county's three existing leagues.

The three presidents of the former leagues of Greater Red Bank, Southern Monmouth and Western Monmouth - Barbara Chaudhery, Evelyn Murphy and Sharon Steinborn, respectively - will serve as co-presidents of the new county league, the organization announced at a press conference Thursday at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township.

The merger of three active leagues is seen, the leaders say, as a way to make the league even more of a force in the county and as a strategic step to :

• Improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Provide even more "civil discourse" through live and online forums.
• Continue to advocate for same-day voter registration and other issues at the heart of the league.

The merged league will also bring back its "Observer Corps," in which volunteers attend meetings of local government boards to key into local issues.

“We are interested in the ongoing happenings in our county; we are reinstituting our Observer Corps - teams of league volunteers sitting in on local government boards and agencies: Board of Elections, Zoning Boards, Township Committees wherever possible," said Steinhorn.

Chaudhery discussed the decision for the merger:

“Over the past few years, national and local events have awakened a keen interest in the central mission of the League of Women Voters to empower voters and defend democracy.

"Never in recent history has our brand been stronger or more relevant, as evidenced by the dramatic growth and heightened activity of the three local Monmouth County leagues," she said.

"The Monmouth County leagues see merger as the strategic next step to build on and expand this successful collaboration. Consolidating the three local leagues codifies and improves the effectiveness of what we do, as well as the efficiency with which we do it.”

Steinhorn described the many activities in which the league engages, including voter registration, education and empowerment.

“Candidate forums have always been a high priority for us. Since COVID entered our lives, we have mastered the virtual platform, thereby bringing candidates into voters’ homes, reaching hundreds more voters and even offering viewers the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates," Steinhorn said.

"League moderators are trained and certified and maintain civil discourse, which is in short supply these days," she said.

She added that the league is scheduling forums for school board and local government elections, as well as elections for Congressional candidates and Monmouth County commissioners and sheriff races.

Murphy outlined the issues that are the "beating heart" of the League, including health care, reproductive rights and public policy on abortion, "natural resources in the time of climate emergency, and voting rights by eliminating all obstacles that impede it."

Specifically, she talked about the league’s support of same-day voter registration:

“Our 21-day deadline disenfranchises New Jersey voters in every election; and our election officials have the resources and technology to allow voters to register at their polling place on Election Day with no adverse effects.

"It is time for New Jersey to join the 21 states and the District of Columbia in allowing voters to register and vote at the same time,” Murphy said.

Regarding the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in May, she said, “We are concerned about the harmful impact on all people who may become pregnant. And we are particularly concerned that this harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.”

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon was a guest speaker at the event.

"You have done such tremendous work in having our voters understand all the changes and all information about the voting process. I have been honored to work with you side by side in this community outreach," Hanlon told the league representatives.

When describing the past two years of significant changes in voting and voting technology, she referenced Monmouth County’s "first-place position" in the state for early voting with 13 percent of voters using this new voting option, the league said in a news release. She credited the league for their efforts in that success.

Regarding the merger she added, “(The three leagues) coming together will bring such resources, strength and cooperation. I am happy to be joining with you to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

For more information on the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County, visit its website.

Membership in the league is open to people 16 years and older of all gender identities. With 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations, the league said.