What can be done to end the Jersey political machine?

[hurricanehink]

Move NJ elections to the presidential year or midterm. We have elections *every single year*, often more than once for municipalities. Given how NJ is basically ignored during presidential elections (thanks Bill Clinton for turning the state permanently blue in ‘92), I think moving our governor and State senate elections to presidential years, with assembly every 2 years. This would be the same as neighboring Delaware.

The move would focus more attention on the legislature, instead of getting voting fatigue. https://nj1015.com/njs-governors-race-cost-79-million-but-had-lowest-turnout-ever/ - the 2017 election had 37.5% turnout, the lowest turnout for a state governor race, beating out... 2013, when turnout was 39%. Compare that to 2018, when turnout was 53.7%, or 2016, when turnout was 68%.

[hurricanehink]

As said above, move the statewide elections to presidential years. Also, there should be a massive push toward merging municipalities. The state should then institute ranked choice voting for all elections. Having a semblance of a third party might keep the Dems on their toes so they don’t get lazy.

[hurricanehink]

As said above, move the statewide elections to presidential years. Also, there should be a massive push toward merging municipalities. The state should then institute ranked choice voting for all elections. Having a semblance of a third party might keep the Dems on their toes so they don’t get lazy.

Why move the statewide elections to presidential or midterm years just to benefit Democrats? Democrats turned out in 1989, 1997 enough to almost defeat Whitman, in 2001, during the 9/11 doldrums, 2005 and 2017.

If the elections were a year earlier, then Dems might've lost in 1988, but they voted for the Dems statewide every election since 1992. There wouldn't have been a Whitman or Christie administration.