COVID-19 Blog

Census and Primary Election Update

Dear Friends:

As the state enters Phase Two of its reopening strategy and allows residents to engage in more and more activities, I would like to remind everyone to participate in two very important activities – completing the U.S. Census and voting in the July 7 Primary Election. These actions are vital to the health and well being of our entire nation.

And to those high school and college graduates and their support network of parents and friends, I send my heartfelt congratulations. I wish the graduates success in all of their personal and professional endeavors. I particularly applaud the creativity, compassion, passion, and perseverance the students have demonstrated during these past few months of health, social, and economic upheaval.

Take Care,

Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker
16^th Legislative District
www.andrewzwicker.com
AsmZwicker@njleg.org
(732) 823-1684

The U.S. Census

The 2020 Census is happening now. You can complete your questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail. Go to https://my2020census.gov.
It's safe, secure, and confidential. Your information and privacy are protected.
Results from the 2020 Census affect:

- Federal funding - billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.
- Congressional reapportionment - the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives.
- Redistricting - State and local officials use census results to help redraw congressional, state, and local district boundaries to contain roughly equal numbers of people to meet the one-person, one-vote rule.

The Election:

Primary voting date: July 7, 2020
Every registered Democratic and Republican voter gets a Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot. Just follow the directions:
- Mark the ballot
- Complete the "certificate of mail-in voter envelope"
- Sign where indicated
- Insert the ballot in the "certificate of mail-in voter envelope" and seal
- Insert the "certificate of mail-in voter envelope" in the return envelope
- Seal the pre-paid postage envelope
- Mail via US mail - ballots must be postmarked no later than 8 p.m. on July 7, 2020
  OR
- Mail via special election secure drop box - ballots must be placed in box by 8 p.m. on July 7, 2020

Every unaffiliated and inactive voter gets a VBM ballot application with pre-paid postage.
- A voter may apply for a Mail-In Ballot by mail up to 7 days prior to the election. He or she may also apply in person to the County Clerk prior to 8 P.M. the day of the election.
- The County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of an Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas Voter, since an original signature is required.
- Once a ballot is received, follow the above directions in filling it out and returning it.

For those who want in-person access to voting, each municipality will have one or more in-person polling places.
- ONLY PROVISIONAL PAPER BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE to cast your vote at these polling places. All locations will be required to follow COVID public health standards.
- If you have a disability and need special accommodations, call your county board of elections https://nj.gov/state/elections/county-eo.shtml or go to the in-person polling location that will provide access to an accessible voting machine on Election Day.

The deadline for the receipt of mail-in ballots to be counted has been extended to seven days after the election.
For information:
https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-by-mail.shtml
https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/registration-check

May 23: COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends:

I have two pieces of important news to report:

A Vote for Democracy: Voting by mail (VBM) for the Tuesday, July 7^th primary election is now going to be far easier than ever before, thanks to the Governor’s executive order (EO 144) that requires each county’s elections officials to send vote by mail ballots to all registered Democratic and Republican voters and VBM ballot applications to unaffiliated and inactive voters. All ballots and applications will come with pre-paid postage. And if you choose to vote in person, COVID-safe options will exist. (Details below).
Food Assistance for Children: The NJ Department of Human Services received approval from the federal government to allocate $248 million in special federal funding to nearly 600,000 New Jersey children who normally receive free or reduced-price school meals. The plan will provide each eligible student with more than $400 to help with nutritional support during the time that schools have been closed during the pandemic.

The bad news is that food insecurity in New Jersey is increasing by unprecedented proportions. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) reports that demand at some onsite pantries are up by 60 percent, while the number of emergency food boxes distributed on an average day has tripled since the beginning of the crisis.

For this reason, I hope you will consider a donation to any food bank in your area. I have listed several of the food bank organizations serving the residents in the 16^th District, but donations to any nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity amounts to a life-changing donation.

And finally, Memorial Day is this weekend. While this highly unusual, socially-distant time prevents us from gathering for a parade to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation, some of our communities are planning virtual ceremonies. Please consider joining one of these ceremonies or take a moment on Monday to stop whatever you are doing in honor of our fallen service members.

Take care,

Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker
16^th Legislative District
www.andrewzwicker.com
AsmZwicker@njleg.org
732-823-1684

Food Banks

Please note: the addresses given below are for physical donations of food and personal items; the websites for monetary donations. The mailing addresses are sometimes different from the physical addresses.

Statewide:

Community Food Bank of New Jersey
https://cfbnj.org/?form=donate
(908) 355-3663
31 Evans Terminal Road, Hillside, 07205

Hunterdon County:

Flemington Area Food Pantry
http://flemingtonfoodpantry.org/donate
(908) 788-5568
154 Route 31 North, Flemington, 08822 (across the parking lot from the front of the Flemington WalMart)

Norwescap
https://norwescap.org/contact-us/
(908) 454-7000
350 Marshall Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
(serving Hunterdon and Somerset Counties)

Somerset County:

Food Bank Network of Somerset
https://www.somersetfoodbank.org/donate/
(732) 560-1813
Building 9-E, Easy Street, Bridgewater, 08807

Hillsborough Food Bank
https://www.hillsborough-nj.org/departments/social/
(908) 369-3880
The Peter J. Biondi Building, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, 08844

Montgomery Township Food Bank
https://recreation.montgomery.nj.us/food-pantry/
(609) 466-1054
Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Rd, Skillman, 08558

Middlesex County:

McFoods of Middlesex County
https://www.feedingmiddlesexcounty.org/donate
(732) 745-5548 or (609) 409-5033
28 Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 850, East Brunswick, 08816

South Brunswick Township Food Bank
https://www.southbrunswicknj.gov/food-pantry
https://register.capturepoint.com/reg/donation
(732) 329-4000, ext. 7674
Municipal Building, 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, 08852

Mercer County:

ArmInArm
(formerly Crisis Ministry of Mercer County)
https://arminarm.org/donate/
(609) 396-9355
61 Nassau Street, Princeton, 08540 (Nassau Presbyterian Church)

Mercer Street Friends
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/MercerStreetFriends/donatenow.html
(609) 278-5547
151 Mercer Street, Trenton, 08611

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
http://www.trentonsoupkitchen.org/donate.php
(609) 695-5456
72 Escher Street, Trenton, 08609

Voting Information

New Jersey Division of Elections
https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-by-mail.shtml

Am I registered to vote?
https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/registration-check

Primary voting date: July 7, 2020
Every registered Democratic and Republican voter will get a Vote By Mail ballot – pre-paid postage.
Every unaffiliated and inactive voter will get a VBM ballot application - pre-paid postage. To receive the ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election. A voter may also return the application in person to the County Clerk until 3 p.m., the day before the election. The County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of a Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas Voter, since an original signature is required.
For those who want in-person access to voting, each municipality must have a minimum of one polling place; and provided that there are enough poll workers, there must be a minimum of 50 percent of polling places in each county to give voters access to in-person voting opportunities. Polling locations will be required to follow COVID public health standards.
In addition to using the U.S. Postal Service for delivery of the mail-in ballots, each county also will provide at least five secure ballot drop boxes and place them in locations readily accessible to the registered voters within the county.
The deadline for the receipt of mail-in ballots to be counted has been extended to seven days after the election.

May 1: COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends:

May is Senior Citizen Month and along with our worries about the health of some of our most vulnerable, social isolation is a huge issue as well. Seniors, who are often by themselves in long-term care facilities, are showing tremendous resilience and grit during these difficult times. Sometimes a simple note or message of encouragement can brighten someone’s entire day.

I hope you will join me in a new initiative that I'm calling "You've Got a Friend" to connect with senior care center residents, who, as you know, can have no visitors at the current time.

It is a simple card-writing campaign to anyone who may need a happy or funny or informative greeting – perhaps a bit of inspiring news that might be a conversation starter. For example, when Senior Citizens Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. In 2020, it is estimated that 55 million living Americans will be 65 and older. Cards that you mail will be distributed to residents who need a boost and it only takes a few minutes.

Below is a list, by no means exhaustive, of six assisted-living facilities. These facilities are in the 16^th Legislative District and their staff are aware that notes are on the way and will distribute them. But you should feel free to write to the residents of any senior residential facility that is nearby or familiar to you.

I also would encourage you to include a sentence thanking the caregivers, who are giving compassionate and competent care in these very challenging times. If you would like to have a return note, don’t forget to include a stamped, addressed envelope and a blank piece of paper.

And just in case you haven't heard yet, the parks and golf courses are reopening on May 2 and the weather is finally turning.

Take Care,