Pascrell Urges Support for Dominican American Voting

Swift action needed to protect July 5 vote

PATERSON, NJ – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) is urging swift action to ensure Dominican Americans can vote. In letters to Dr. Julio César Castaños Guzmán, President of the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Pascrell urges both to provide help to enfranchise Dominican Americans in the fast-approaching July 5th general elections in the Dominican Republic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has upended daily life for nearly all New Jerseyans. The challenges our community face have been made even more difficult because of this crisis. This crisis should not prohibit the more than 300,000 Dominican Americans who live in New Jersey from voting,” Pascrell writes separately to Electoral Board President Guzmán and Gov. Murphy. “I urge you to give our Dominican Americans neighbors the peace of mind they deserve by working with the republic to establish a plan to protect their constitutional rights to vote in the July 5 general elections.”

Representing one of the most diverse districts in the United States, Rep. Pascrell is a longtime friend and supporter of North Jersey’s vibrant Dominican American community.

A copy of Rep. Pascrell’s letter to Dr. Guzmán is available here (Español). The text of the letter is provided below.

May 20, 2020

The Honorable Dr. Julio César Castaños Guzmán

Presidente de la Junta Central Electoral

República Dominicana

Honorable Dr. Castaños Guzmán:

I write because the Dominican Republic’s general elections are rapidly approaching on July 5, 2020 and concerns have been raised about Dominican Americans’ ability to cast a vote. I am proud to represent a vibrant Dominican American community in northern New Jersey and these individuals are central to the social fabric of our state. I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that Dominican Americans residing in New Jersey can exercise their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming elections.

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended daily life for nearly all New Jerseyans. The challenges our community face have been made even more difficult because of this crisis. This crisis should not prohibit the more than 300,000 Dominican Americans who live in New Jersey from voting. Being able to express your voice in an election to determine your representatives is a cornerstone of democracy. Policies and procedures must be in place to assist Dominican’s residing in New Jersey in voting in the upcoming elections. These safeguards are needed to ensure their constitutional rights are upheld and people are not put at unnecessary risk during this crisis.

I urge you to give Dominican Americans in New Jersey the peace of mind they deserve by working with the State of New Jersey to establish a plan to protect their constitutional rights to vote in the July 5 general elections. I urge this plan to include methods to communicate information about any changes from previous electoral processes to voters and safe practices for casting a vote during this crisis.

Thank you for your time and attention to this request. I am ready to work with you to ensure all Dominican Americans residing in New Jersey can exercise their democratic rights.

Sincerely,

Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Member of Congress

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