We know. It's been confusing. But here are the great big YES answers to many VBM/voting early questions: 

• Can any registered voter vote early, even if he or she signed up to Vote by Mail? YES!!!!
• I didn't send my mail-in ballot by the deadline. Or my pet tortoise ate it. Is it BETTER to vote early than by provisional ballot on election day? YES!!!!!
• Is my early voting ballot a REAL ballot counted on election night (and is my provisional ballot counted later?) YES AND YES!!!!
• If I was sent a VBM but can't find it, can I vote at an early voting location? YES!!!!
• If I was sent a VBM to another address, can I vote early? YES!!!
• If I requested a VBM but it never arrived, can I vote early? YES!!!!!
• If I applied to VBM but the Clerk didn't process it, can I vote early? YES!!!!!
• If I have not applied to VBM but I want to vote early, even after October 30th, can I vote early? YES!!!!!
• If I am on the record as being a VBM voter and I neglect to vote by mail or early, will my ONLY choice be to vote by PROVISIONAL ballot on election day? YES!!!!!

And again: Is EARLY VOTING better than voting by provisional ballot?

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!

Here's exactly where and when you can cast an early vote:

THIS IS HOW REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS LIKE CHRIS CHRISTIE AND JAY WEBBER TALK TO WOMEN!

Like bullies. Bullies whose constant response to women’s concerns is a resounding NO.

When Christie said NO to women’s well-being with drastic cuts to women’s health care, the impact was devastating. Health centers were forced to close.  Breast and cervical cancer cases increased. And Morris County had the highest surge in bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the state.

We also know Jay Webber’s harsh voting record on issues that affect women and their families.  There’s no reason to believe his views would change if he were elected to Congress.   

Webber voted:

• NO! on a bill that passed overwhelmingly to protect women and minorities from workplace discrimination, making it illegal to offer them lower pay and fewer benefits without good reason.
• NO! on increasing the minimum wage.  
• NO! (repeatedly) on funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics.   
• NO! on after-school programs for at-risk children.
• NO! (twice) on a bill that would require health benefits for certain treatment therapies for autism and other developmental disabilities.

And when it came time to require insurers to cover breast evaluations and other medically necessary tests, Webber was silent — he abstained from voting on a unanimously passed bill.

Do we want to be represented in Congress by someone who has failed to show compassion and empathy?  

NO.

Vote Mikie Sherrill on November 6.

One in five women in the U.S. relies on Planned Parenthood for health services that include testing and treatment for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy testing, and cancer screenings. Last year, over 18,000 women, men and teens received treatment from Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey.

A poll commissioned by NJ11th for Change showed more than 70% of district residents support continued federal funding to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services. Even the majority of Republicans polled agreed. But Jay Webber has been unyielding in his quest to defund the clinics. Thankfully, NJ legislators have prevailed to keep them open and help families in need.

Imagine being a gay or transgender teenager whose family decides to “fix” you through conversion therapy sessions -- medically unsound, non-scientific interventions purporting to change sexual orientation or gender identity. Since you’re a minor, refusal is not an option. Many LGBT adults who have undergone the process describe it as torturous, traumatic and harmful.

Conversion therapy has been condemned by the American Medical Association. A 2015 New Jersey court case officially ruled it to be fraud. And former U.S. Surgeon General, David Satcher, issued a report stating that "there is no valid scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed."

When NJ legislators voted overwhelmingly to oppose this type of treatment on minors, guess who voted against abolishing the practice? Jay Webber.

Protect LGBTQ teens.

Vote Mikie Sherrill November 6.

Essex County voters – you now have a choice of TWO places in which you can vote early in Election 2016.  An additional center is now open at South Mountain Recreation Complex, Turtle Back Zoo, Education Building, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange. Here is a .pdf from the Essex County Clerk's Office with early-voting center information.

The South Mountain center will be open:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, October 22-24: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 25: Closed; Newark Office is open
Friday, October 26: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, October 29: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 30: Closed; Newark Office is open
Wednesday, October 31: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, November 1: 11:30 a.m – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 2: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 3: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Monday, November 5: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Early voting continues to be available at the Essex County Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Room 247, Newark. Hours at Newark are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Monday, November 5, early voting in Newark closes at 3 p.m.

Election day is Tuesday, November 6.

Mikie Sherrill, Democratic candidate for the 11^th District congressional seat, has picked up two important endorsements from the editorial boards of The New York Times and the Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper.

Vote Mikie Sherrill for Congress: Webber is too fanatical (Star-Ledger)

Highlights: Sherrill’s “sterling background as a Navy veteran, helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor” and “sensible defense of our health care coverage [and] gun safety” are contrasted with “Webber’s bear hug of President Trump and a Republican party that’s careened to the far right.” The Star-Ledger’s editorial board writes that Webber’s state legislature voting record “proves he’s far too extreme for the people of this district.”

Candidates Who Can Help Take Back the House (The New York Times)

Highlights: Sherrill is featured as one of six candidates The Times’ editorial board considers to be strong choices for “representatives in Congress who will act against corruption in the Trump administration and work for legislation to provide health care, public services and jobs to Americans, as opposed to tax breaks for millionaires.” The Times notes Sherrill’s commitment to the Gateway infrastructure project and universal background checks for gun purchases.

TODAY (TUES. Oct. 16) IS THE DAY to ensure that you are able to vote on Nov. 6, 2018 in what is arguably the most important election of our lifetimes. This is the home stretch.

If you have not yet registered to vote in New Jersey, you have until today to register in time to vote in the general election.

 GO HERE to find out how to register.

If you’re already registered to vote:

• Check NOW at this link to make sure your registration is current and active. If it isn’t, go to the link above for instructions on how to register by Oct. 16.
• Use this link to make sure you know where your polling place is.
• IMPORTANT Vote By Mail Update: If you are a registered voter who applied for a Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot for the 2016 general election, you will automatically be sent a VBM ballot for 2018. Our VBM fact sheet has more details about important Vote By Mail updates for 2018.

Please take a moment, right now, to make sure you’re registered, and to make a voting plan.

Talk to your family and friends. Ask if they are registered. Encourage them to become registered voters. If they’re already registered, encourage them to check to make sure their registration is active.

Don’t sit this one out. There’s so much at stake this year, for all of us.

During Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, funding for women’s reproductive health care was slashed. More than $7 million per year was eliminated for health and family planning for uninsured women -- funding that went to lifesaving, preventive services including breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Health centers were forced to close. Breast and cervical cancer cases increased. And Morris County had the highest surge in bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the state.

Did Jay Webber stand with other legislators who voted to protect NJ women by restoring the needed funding? Not a chance. He voted against the bill that provided a safety net for low-income women.

#27moredays  #votesherrill

Shala Gagliardi, Democratic candidate for Morris County Clerk, put up a video on her Facebook page recently that covers what you should know about Vote By Mail procedures, including what's new this year.

(Still have questions about the new rules for 2018? Download our handy Vote By Mail guide.)

When thousands of students and families across the state marched in support of tougher gun laws this spring, astute legislators paid attention. A few weeks later, New Jersey joined eight other states and Washington DC to pass laws banning large capacity ammunition magazines holding more than ten rounds.

Despite the fact that residents in our congressional district favor having strong gun laws, Jay Webber voted against this reasonable measure.

#34moredays  #votesherrill

New Jersey has the highest foreclosure rate in the country. Following the housing crash, mortgage counseling and mediation services helped to prevent even more homeowners from going underwater.

What did Jay Webber do? He voted against establishing the Mortgage Stabilization Program that assists homeowners and lenders who want to refinance mortgages to make payments affordable.

#35moredays #votesherrill

A 31 percent drop in clinical breast exams in New Jersey from 2009-2012 at Title X health centers was the direct result of former Governor Christie’s drastic cuts to women’s healthcare services. By 2015, rates of sexually transmitted infections increased 35 percent.

A large majority of residents in our 11th congressional district believe Planned Parenthood should be allowed to receive government funding. Mikie Sherrill has pledged to “be a forceful voice against efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, and efforts to limit a woman’s access to safe family planning services.”

#37moredays  #votesherrill