New Jersey

Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy Associate Dean Julia Sass Rubin joins Joey to discuss the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the decision to strike down the County Organizational Line for this year’s Democratic Primary, the upcoming case that could get rid of it permanently and how to engage the average voter in an office block system.

“First and foremost, candidate order matters. There is a rich literature around what is known as the primacy effect that indicates being first on the ballot is helpful. To counter this effect, many states randomize the order of candidate names by voting district. This is easily done by computer and the process of ballot creation is quick, inexpensive, and fair.”

We should recognize just how low the bar is right now, and how dysfunctional democracy in New Jersey—and in the United States more generally—is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. – Matt Mazewski

“I do think that there is an opening for real reforms,” Rubin said. “I’m not naïve. I don’t think it’s like a switch is going to go off.”

Taken together, these five reforms would help vanquish the powerful grip that political machines have long had on our state.