“ …Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” -Abraham Lincoln
In order for government to be “by the people,” we must exercise our right to vote. It is not only an important individual liberty; it is the foundation of free government.
The right to vote was initially established in 1789. In 1870, the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to all men who were 21 or older regardless of race or ethnic background. In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women age 21 or older the right to vote. Finally, in 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age across the nation to 18.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters will be casting ballots to elect two Assembly seats, County Sheriff, County Surrogate, four Freeholder seats, two Township Committee seats, two Eastern Regional Board of Education seats and three Voorhees Township Board of Education seats. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Voorhees Township.
Ballots can be cast at the following locations:
Residents of District 1 (Greenridge and Old Ashland areas) vote at Osage Elementary School
Residents of District 2 (Kirkwood and Carriagebrooke Farm) vote at the Kirkwood Fire Hall
Residents of District 3 (Alluvium Woods area) vote at Kresson Fire Hall
Residents of District 4 (Echelon Towers and La Bonne Vie areas) vote at Osage Elementary School
Residents of District 5 (Three Pond and Franklin Square areas) vote at the Municipal Building
Residents of District 6 (Portion of Sturbridge Lakes and Woodbrook areas) vote at the Voorhees School Administration Building
Residents of District 7 (Lost Tree, Holly Oak) vote at the Voorhees Middle School
Residents of District 8 (Main Street Estates area) vote at Kresson Elementary School
Residents of District 9 (Devonshire, Lake Villa, Elm Tree and Alluvium Lakes areas) vote at E.T. Hamilton Elementary School
Residents of District 10 (Alluvium area) vote at E.T. Hamilton Elementary School
Residents of District 11 (Portion of Sturbridge Lakes) vote at Signal Hill Elementary School
Residents of District 12 (Ashland Terrace, Woodcrest, Staffordshire Estates area) vote at the Municipal Building
Residents of District 13 (Avian area) vote at the Brendenwood Senior Center
Residents of District 14 (Rainwood area) vote at Kresson Elementary School
Residents of District 15 (Beagle Club, Wood Glen, Laurie Drive area) vote at Kresson Fire Hall
Residents of District 16 (Sturbridge Estates and Sturbridge Woods areas) vote at Signal Hill Elementary School
Residents of District 17 (Centennial Mill area) vote at Centennial Mill Clubhouse
Residents of District 18 (Village Apartment area) vote at Municipal Building
Residents of District 19 (Staffordshire and Traditions area) vote at Voorhees Middle School
Any voter who is not listed on the voting rolls or is denied the right to vote, and who believes he or she is properly registered, can vote by way of a provisional ballot which will be reviewed by the Board of Elections to determine voter eligibility.
Each voter will receive a sample ballot in the mail prior to the election which will identify that voter’s district.
Your vote counts.
**Sunday, Nov. 1 starts Daylight Savings Time and clocks are turned back one hour. This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
** The Voorhees Animal Orphanage will hold its 19th Annual Woofstock Festival on Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Connolly Park. The event will feature festivities for animal lovers of all ages and their leashed pets as well as appearances by the Mummers, Dr. Elizabeth Severino (Animal Communicator) and Master Chef Joseph Poon. Crafters and vendors are welcome. Microchipping will be available for $25. Admission is a $1 donation but senior citizens and children under 5 are free. For more information about Woofstock or the Animal Orphanage, visit www.theanimalorphanage.org or www.vaonj.org/woofstock.
** The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation will hold its 13th Annual Birthday Bash on Friday, Nov. 13 from 6:30 p.m. until midnight at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin. The Foundation furnishes Teen Lounges in hospitals to enhance the quality of life for teens with cancer and other life- threatening illnesses. Tickets are $130. For more information, call (856) 784–0615 or visit www.arvf.org.
