America—and New Jersey—are experiencing a moment of transition, one that may profoundly change our country for years to come. And those changes will have a unique impact on all New Jerseyans, especially those of color. On April 16, 2025, local residents, leading experts and policymakers gathered for a panel on democracy and voting rights. This panel dives deep into the state of democracy in New Jersey, examining the Garden State’s laws and policies regarding voting rights, ballot design, the census and more.

Panelists include:

• Antoinette Miles, State Director of New Jersey Working Families Alliance
• Jesse Burns, Executive Director of League of Women Voters of New Jersey
• Nuzhat Chowdhury, Director of Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
• Henal Patel, Law & Policy Director at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Resources 

• AAPI New Jersey 

• ACLU New Jersey 

• League of Women Voters of New Jersey 

• Make the Road New Jersey 

• New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice 

• New Jersey Institute for Social Justice 

• New Jersey Working Families 

The views and opinions expressed during the sessions are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Fund for New Jersey, event co-sponsors, or partners.