NJ Dems can vote ‘uncommitted’ in primary
When New Jersey Democrats hit the polls in the June 4 presidential primary, some will be casting a vote for “uncommitted” on their ballots in a show of protest over President Joe Biden's support for the war in Gaza.
Activists collected thousands of signatures needed to get “uncommitted” delegates on the ballot in all 21 counties under the slogan “Justice for Palestine, permanent cease-fire now.” But they are still grappling with counties that they say have unfairly diminished their place on the ballot.
The “uncommitted” vote is part of a nationwide movement, spurred by growing outrage over Biden's support for the war in Gaza , where at least 33,000 people have been killed and nearly 80,000 are injured. Nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and 240 were taken hostage in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered the current war.
“We have heard from so many community members who are angry with what is happening and who feel they are not being heard,” said Fatima Mughal, an organizer with the UncommittedNJ campaign. “Our priority is sending a message to Joe Biden and doing everything in our power to let him know that what he is doing is wrong and is not the will of the people.”
The New Jersey effort is spearhead by the local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, who collected more then 3,500 signatures from registered Democrats to get their delegates on the ballot.
A vote of “uncommitted” means the voter is choosing a delegate who is not committed to any one candidate. If enough people cast “uncommitted” votes, the party may send their delegates to the national convention, where its presidential candidate is nominated.
As New Jersey gets closer to the primary, UncommittedNJ campaign leaders and delegates are scrambling to try to get county clerks to revise their ballots. They argue that most counties did not follow New Jersey statute when they excluded them from drawings that determine the placement of candidates on the ballot.
In Bergen County, delegate Eric Kopp filed an April 4 complaint against County Clerk John Hogan, who oversees ballots, alleging he was treated in a “discriminatory manner” because he was omitted from the draw. He also alleged that the “lack of uniform font size” on the ballot violated statute.
A sample ballot from Bergen County shows presidential candidate Terrisa Bukovinac, 1A, at the top while Biden, 1B, is named next in the vertical box. Under Biden's name are the words Democratic Committee of Bergen County, along with a list of delegates. Uncommitted is printed in smaller font on the bottom of the ballot box. No letter or number is provided.
The caption “For 20th District Delegates to the
Democratic Convention” appears under Biden's name, but not under “uncommitted.”
“In my opinion, whoever designed the ballots is intentionally trying to confuse voters and make it seem like it's not an option to vote for us,” Kopp said.
Hogan said he acted “within the law” and that the ballot design was intended to make it less confusing for voters, noting that the Justice for Palestine group did not have candidates.
The ballots are being designed in a time of upheaval, he added, after a federal judge, in a ruling last month, abolished the county line that gave preferential positioning given to candidates by county organizations.
“This is an election where everything is different than before,” Hogan said, saying that county clerks did not have direction from the state on how to proceed. “I'm trying my best to avoid voter confusion as confusion is raining down around me.”
“We are drawing for candidates for president and if I suddenly throw up uncommitted with no presidential candidate, it can cause tremendous voter confusion.”
The vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to be sent out starting on April 20 across the state.
The Uncommitted Delegates Committee wrote to the New Jersey Secretary of State and the Division of Elections asking them to intervene.
Donna Barber, acting director of the Division of Elections, responded in a letter that “the ballot design and ballot draws are statutorily within the sole discretion and authority of the County Clerks.” Barber also said she confirmed that the delegates are on the ballot in all 21 counties.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans in states across the country have already cast Democratic primary votes for “uncommitted.” Others have voted for “uninstructed,” and “no preference,” where that is the alternative according to their state ballot.
The movement gained steam after a push by Michigan Democrats to “abandon Biden” with a protest vote in that state's Feb. 27 primary. More than 100,000 people, 13% in total, voted uncommitted. On March 5, about 50,000 Minnesota Democrats voted uncommitted, making up about 1 in 5 voters.
A Gallup poll conducted in March showed that 36% of Americans approve of Israel's military action in Gaza. Among Democrats, just 18% approved.
Biden also faces pressure from Israel advocates to support the country's military campaign to destroy Hamas, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization.
Facing election pressure and global outrage, Biden issued a rare rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the conflict. "I think what he's doing is a mistake. I don't agree with his approach," Biden told Spanish-language TV network Univision in an interview on April 9.
Still, Biden has continued to support unconditional military aid to Israel. He has called for a temporary cease-fire, but not a permanent one as sought by Palestinian advocates.
Jonathan Greenblatt, national director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, was asked about Michigan's uncommitted movement in a February interview with CNBC and dismissed it as "pathetic."
“I'm old enough to remember when you are upset about policies that a government was doing, you actually got involved. You didn't pull back. You said I want a seat at the table and I'm going to earn it then you demand,” he said.
Some Democrats have also raised concerns that continued criticism will undercut Biden's chances to win in November.
They argue that Donald Trump, known for antiMuslim rhetoric and policies when he was president, could be a worse option for Arab and Muslim Americans.
Isaac Jiminez, an organizer with the North Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, said the uncommitted movement, he said, was intended to deliver a message to Biden that the Democrats do not want their tax dollars used to fund the war.
“New Jersey has one of the last primaries,” he said. “It is one of the bluest states and it has one of the largest Muslim populations and Arab American populations.
“This needs to be final warning to Biden that if he is going to count on these constituencies in November, he needs to call for a permanent cease-fire.”