GCGOP Chairwoman Vigilante Calls On Governor To Rescind Executive Order 177

A fast-tracked early voting bill is a solid compromise

MULLICA HILL – Gloucester County Republican Chairwoman Jacci Vigilante called on Governor Phil Murphy to rescind Executive Order 177, pause his plan for a general election conducted primarily by vote-by-mail and allow the state legislature to fast-track an early voting bill that will give voters the opportunity to vote on machines at polling places.

“While not perfect a fast-tracked early voting bill is a solid compromise and a solution that is better than vote-by-mail,” Jacci Vigilante said. “The Democrats, including Senate President Steve Sweeney, have been pushing early voting for years. Many voters want to vote on machines and not fill in ovals on a piece of paper. Early voting on machines gives everyone a little bit of what they want.”

“Less than three weeks ago state Senator Brian Stack said he planned on introducing an early voting bill.” Vigilante explained, “Stack said that he thought if they got the bill in before September 1st it could work.”

Vigilante added, “We know bills move fast when they want them to. Remember how fast they moved the bill to allow Cooper Hospital to gain control of both paramedic service and ambulance service in Camden? That bill moved faster than Senator Cory Booker moves toward a TV camera!”

“Early voting, even with a reduced number of polling places, solves the problem of voter safety during the pandemic. Because the election would be spread out over a period of about 15 days the concern of long lines at polling places goes away, social distancing can easily be practiced. Voters who don’t want to fill in ovals on a piece of paper still get to vote on a machine and will likely stand in a line shorter than the one at the local Shop Rite.” Vigilante said, “If the Governor’s true concern is voter safety he will sit down with legislative leadership and get to work on a solid general election plan that makes everybody a little bit happy.”