If you are reading this and have not yet voted early or by mail, please get to your polling place Tuesday, Nov. 2, 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Democracy is fragile, and voting is the glue that holds it together. Even though the two Highland Park Council members Stephany Kim-Chohan and Tara Canavera are running unopposed for re-election to council, they need to know that people care. With your vote, you can hold them accountable for their job of representing you in an ethical, intelligent, and caring manner. In all the other positions on the ballot including that of governor, the incumbents have challengers. Earn the privilege of citizenship by voting.
There are two public questions to be voted upon.
State Public Question No. 1.
Constitutional Amendment to Permit Wagering on All College Sport or Athletic Events. Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit wagering through casinos and current or former horse racetracks on all college sport or athletic events? Currently, wagering is prohibited on college sport or athletic events that take place in New Jersey. Wagering is also prohibited on an event in which a team from a New Jersey college participates. Interpretive Statement Currently, the State Constitution prohibits wagering on college sport or athletic events taking place in New Jersey. It also prohibits wagering on an event in which a New Jersey college team participates. This amendment would allow the Legislature to pass laws permitting wagering on any college sport or athletic event. It would permit wagering even if a New Jersey college team participates in the competition. Such wagering would be permitted only through casinos and current or former horse racetracks.
State Public Question No. 2
Constitutional Amendment to Allow Certain Organizations Authorized to Conduct Games of Chance to Use Proceeds from those Games to Support the Organization. Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit all groups that are allowed to conduct bingo or raffles to use the net proceeds from those games to support their groups? Currently, only veterans and senior citizen groups may use the net proceeds from those games to support their groups. All other groups that are permitted to conduct bingo or raffles may only use the proceeds from those games for certain purposes. They are not permitted to use those proceeds to support their groups. The amendment would allow the other groups that conduct bingo or raffles to use the proceeds to support their groups as well. Interpretive Statement The Constitution permits certain groups to conduct games of chance such as bingo or raffles. Those groups are veterans, charitable, educational, religious, fraternal, civic, and senior citizen groups; volunteer fire companies; and first-aid or rescue squads. The net proceeds from those games of chance may only be used for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited uses. However, veterans and senior citizen groups may also use the proceeds from those games to support their groups. This amendment would permit all of the groups authorized to conduct games of chance to use the net proceeds from conducting bingo or raffles to support their groups.