One of the primary duties of the League of Women Voters is to educate voters about candidates running for office. Candidate Forums (Debates) are a tradition of our democracy and are critical to our election process. Voters deserve to hear directly from candidates on issues they care about before casting their ballots. This is why the League of Women Voters works hard to prepare voters by providing nonpartisan candidate forums.

Members from four New Jersey League of Women Voters (LWV) – The LWV of the Morris Area, the LWV of the Montclair Area, the LWV of Livingston, and the LWV of Mountain Lakes formed a subcommittee to plan a debate for the candidates with significant campaigns running in a special election for Congress in District 11. The candidates are Joe Hathaway, Republican, and Analilia Mejia, Democrat.

Despite ongoing communications with both candidates, the four New Jersey Leagues mentioned above and their statewide partner, ACLU-NJ, could not schedule a debate for the New Jersey Congressional District 11 Special Election. The Leagues could not reach an agreement with Mejia’s campaign and still maintain the League’s nonpartisan debate policy.

For over a century, the League has provided unbiased information through forums/debates, candidate questionnaires, voter registration drives, and educational events. These forums are essential to promoting an informed and engaged electorate. They offer opportunities for voters to learn about who will be on their ballot.

When candidates decline and or fail to agree to the nonpartisan rules for League forums/debates, the public miss out, and democracy suffers.

The League’s forums / debates are strictly nonpartisan, moderated by trained professionals following FEC guidelines and the League’s high standards. Questions are gathered from the public and carefully reviewed by the League and nonpartisan partners for relevance to issues candidates would address if elected. The League ensures no bias or personal attacks are allowed. As always, the League does not support or oppose any candidates or political parties. We are disappointed that we cannot provide an insight into the candidates and their positions that would have resulted from an LWV-sponsored forum to the voters living in CD 11.