Redistricting Reform for a Fairer New Jersey
October 2018 Guest: Helen Kioukis on Redistricting Reform
Fair District flyer for October 10
Redistricting Reform for a Fairer New Jersey
Helen Kioukis
LWVNJ Program Associate
Lead organizer of Fair Districts New Jersey
SPECIAL EVENT: PUBLIC WELCOME
October 10, 2018, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Highland Park Citizen Center, 220 S. 6th St., Highland Park 08904
Redistricting should be impartial and transparent. It should maximize public input in the process and put the power in the hands of the voters, not politicians. Redistricting is happening in 2021. We need to organize now.
Fair Districts New Jersey is a non-partisan coalition led by League of Women Voters of New Jersey fighting to reform New Jersey’s redistricting process. Join LWV Greater New Brunswick Area for a session as Helen Kioukis lays out the problem, offers solutions and calls to action citizens who want to ensure that NJ Legislative Districts are drawn in a way that is transparent, representative and impartial.
November 2018 Guest: Dr. Elizabeth C. Matto on Civics Education
LWV GNBA Civics Committee has invited Dr. Elizabeth C. Matto to speak at the November 14th meeting. She is an Associate Research Professor at Rutgers University.
Excerpt from her bio: “Matto directs Eagleton’s Center for Youth Political Participation (CYPP), leading research as well as educational and public service efforts designed to encourage and support the political learning of high school and college students and civic action among young adults, including those holding and running for office.”
The LWV GNBA hopes to learn from Dr. Matto about how outside organizations, especially the League of Women Voters, can help schools and colleges further civics education and participation. She will speak about her research in relation to civic education gaps in the curriculum in central NJ schools.
We look forward to Dr. Matto’s visit!
Y Vote
Essay and Video Contest with Two $500 Prizes!
Y Vote is an initiative started by The League of Women’s Voters Greater New Brunswick Area to encourage high schools students to consider the importance of voter participation. This contest is ultimately aimed to encase voter participation and civic engagement amongst younger voters as their voices are essential within our democratic process.
Participating High Schools: Watchung Hills Regional, Montgomery Township, Pingry, Bernards High School, Bishop Ahr, Somerville, Metuchen, Highland Park, Bound Brook, Franklin, Bridgewater, J.P. Stevens, Edison, New Brunswick, North Plainfield, Hillsborough
How to Enter:
- Submit either a persuasive essay of up to 500 words or a video of up to three minutes in length focused on inspiring your peer group and others to vote in the coming Congressional Election and in all future elections.
- Entries should be creative, effective and inspirational. They should act as a call to action on the importance of using your vote to influence the direction of our democracy.
- Entries may address particular issues of importance to you as a voter. If you choose, they may include personal narrative elements.
- Entries may not include endorsements or criticisms of particular candidates.
- Essays must be submitted by individual students, but videos may be submitted by either an individual or by a team, including all names who worked on the video.
- Any student in a participating high school in Somerset or Middlesex County, whether or not you will be of voting age this year is eligible to participate
Prizes
Two $500.00 prizes will be awarded, one to the best essay and the other to the best video. If the winning video is submitted by a team, the prize will be shared among the members of the team. Notable nonwinners will be acknowledged with Honorable Mentions.
Submissions of Entries
- Essays must be sent as PDF files to the following email address: YVoteContest2018@gmail.com. They must have a cover page including the author’s Name, Age, Grade, and High School.
- Videos must be uploaded to the contestant’s own YouTube account with an “Unlisted” setting. A link to the video must be sent to the following email address: YVoteContest2018@gmail.com. The email must contain the following information for all members of the team: Name, Age, Grade, and High School.
Important Dates
Last Date for Submission of Entries: October 10, 2018
Announcement of Winners: October 25, 2018
Award Ceremony at Eagleton Institute of Politics: October 26, 2018
T-Shirts
Support this project with your own “Y VOTE” t-shirt featuring the graphic above! They are available for $19.99 at “Gimmee Gimmee Tees” in Somerville, NJ. If you buy 4 shirts, get one free!
lwvgnba.com 