Democracy & Civic Engagement

The ACLU-NJ advocates for a government that is accountable to the people and for access to the tools that will allow people to participate fully in public life.

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A government by the people, for the people can only exist when members of the public are able to freely participate in civic life and make their voices heard. Democracy requires transparency from our officials, unrestricted voting rights, the freedom to dissent, and the ability to meaningfully obtain information about and weigh in on important government decision-making.

The ACLU-NJ advocates for a government that is accountable to the people and for access to the tools that will allow people to participate fully in public life.

The Latest

Know Your Rights
A mircophone on a podium with a crowd of people in the background with a blue strip treatment

Know Your Rights to Access Public Meetings Under New Jersey’s Sunshine Law

New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) gives the public the right to be present at all meetings of public bodies and to witness all phases of their deliberation, policy formulation, and decision-making.
News & Commentary
Voting booths

I registered to vote in New Jersey, but my name isn’t on the voter rolls. What can I do?

If you’re missing from the poll book on Election Day, you have options to cast your vote.
News & Commentary
register to vote here

As the General Election Approaches, Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote

We hope that when you vote, you cast your ballot like your rights depend on it.
Press Release
Press Release ACLU of New Jersey

ACLU-NJ and Harvard Election Law Clinic File Suit on Behalf of Voters Unlawfully Targeted by the Ocean County Board of Elections

The lawsuit is the first to be brought under the recently enacted John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights, Democracy & Civic Engagement

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation

Campaign
Aug 2025

Expanding Voting Rights for All

The ACLU-NJ is fighting for expanded and equal access to the ballot.
Court Case
Oct 8, 2026

League of Women Voters of New Jersey v. Ocean County Board of Elections

Complaint filed on behalf of voters who were unlawfully targeted and threatened with disenfranchisement.
Campaign
Oct 2026

Defending Our Vote: Our Election Protection Plan

Here’s how we’re working to keep elections free and fair in the Garden State.
Court Case
Mar 4, 2026

United States v. Caldwell

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the Latino Action Network, and an individual New Jersey voter, represented by the ACLU of New Jersey and the ACLU Voting Rights Project, have joined this lawsuit as Intervenor-Defendants to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from obtaining New Jersey voters’ personal data.