Vol. 4, No. 8, August 2007
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Your Vote Counts
Casino employees make up a formidable voting block; we should use that power
I am sure that for all of you, the date Wednesday, July 5, 2006 conjures up some very vivid memories. As you may recall, on that day at 8 a.m., our 12 privately owned casino businesses were closed by order of the state, victims of the budget impasse.
In addition to impacting our operations, this event affected each and every employee who, as a result, lost significant wages and tips that would have otherwise been earned had they been allowed to work.
Last year at this time, CANJ encouraged each of you to participate in the Casino Association employee voter registration campaign at each casino. A year later, we remind you that it is critical that we demonstrate to our state government that we are united as casino employees, and as such, our block of 45,000 employee voters, who with their families could easily make us a force in excess of 100,000 voters strong, wield tremendous statewide power.
With the upcoming elections in November, in which the entire legislature is up for election, CANJ believes this is the opportune time to renew our efforts to register each and every casino employee to vote.
As a refresher, the registration criteria for voting in New Jersey are as follows:
Who Can Register:
To register in New Jersey, you must be:
• a United States citizen;
• 18 years old by the next election; and
• a resident of your county for 30 days before the election.
Our casinos will continue and strengthen our efforts to provide voter registration information and materials for our employees on-site, with many properties implementing staffed booths with registration materials and mailing envelopes. Be sure to check with your human resources department to learn more.
Voter registration applications can also be obtained from the Division of Elections, Commissioners of Registration office in the county where you live, or from your municipal clerk.
Registration forms are also available in various state agencies and at Division of Motor Vehicles offices, where the forms can be obtained while transacting agency business. You can also print a registration application online at www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/vote and mail the completed form to the Commissioners of Registration office in the county where you reside.
In addition, this form can be used for name and address changes. Remember that the Commissioners of Registration cannot accept faxed copies or an electronic transmission of a voter registration form, since an original signature is required. Also remember that the registration deadline to vote in the next election is 21 days prior to election day. Election Day is November 6, so this means that you must be registered to vote before October 15.
On a related topic, CANJ believes the time has come for a law to be passed allowing casino employees to hold political office in Atlantic City. Atlantic City casino employees and executives are currently prohibited from holding public office at the state level or in Atlantic City. They are not prohibited, however, from holding office in surrounding towns or the county.
Under a new bill, which awaits a hearing in the Senate Tourism and Gaming Committee, gaming employees would no longer be barred from running for local office in Atlantic City (under this bill casino employees would still be barred from running for state legislature or statewide office).
CANJ believes that over the years, Atlantic City has lost the opportunity to consider many otherwise qualified candidates as a result of the current prohibition on casino employees from holding public office and certain appointed positions.
Consequently, we support the overturning of this law that prohibits some very successful, intelligent and hardworking individuals who work in our industry from participating in the political process.
An additional message of the repeal of this prohibition would help to legitimize our industry by taking away the stigma associated with a limitation that does not restrict any other business or industry in our state.
We urge you to participate in the electoral process by voting in November—and by registering to vote if you have not already done so. We also urge you to request to your state legislators that they support the passage of a law that would remove the current prohibition of casino employees from holding public office. As we learned during the shutdown last summer, we are impacted by the political process, and as a result, we should participate to the full extent permitted under the law.
Our country is based on, and is strong because of, the principle of citizens participating in their government. We all have a solemn duty to vote. Please take the time to exercise this freedom and have your voice heard through your vote.
