As the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election approaches on Tuesday, November 4, Kean University is ramping up efforts to ensure students are ready to vote. With rising costs of living, student affordability, and state-level education on the ballot, Kean’s campus leaders are urging students to recognize their power and make it count.
Why This Election Matters
This year’s race pits Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill against Republican businessman and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, among other third-party candidates. With our current Governor Phil Murphy term-limited, the outcome will shape NJ’s direction on everything from property taxes to public transit and higher education funding.
“Voting is important due to several issues in the state of New Jersey,” said Alexander Mori, a member of Kean’s Voting Squad. “The main issue right now in the governor’s election is cost of living—property taxes are going up, the price of utilities is going up. Depending on who our next governor is, the issues are either going to stay the same, get better, or get worse.”
For students juggling tuition, rent, and groceries, these are personal, rather than abstract, policy debates.
Ballot Bowl: Kean’s Civic Spirit in Action
Kean is once again competing in the New Jersey Ballot Bowl, an intrastate challenge to boost student voter engagement. “We try to get people civically engaged on campus, specifically college students,” said Rhandall Almonacy, a Service Specialist from the Center for Leadership and Service. “The whole aim is to get more college students to be aware and involved in civic relations.”
Throughout September and October, Kean has hosted voter registration tabling events, canvassing days, and educational programs like “Learn How to Early Vote” on Monday, October 20 and the upcoming “The Autumn I Voted” forum on Monday, October 27. In addition, freshmen participating in the Cougar Climb raffle can earn a badge by pledging to vote.
How to Vote: Your Options
Register: The deadline to register for this election cycle was Tuesday, October 14. If you did not register by this date, you can register for next year’s cycle. Students can register using either their home or campus address via Kean’s TurboVote platform.
Vote by Mail: Main-in ballots can be dropped off at the secure box outside Wilkins Theater.
Early Voting: This runs from October 25 to November 2. If you can’t make it on election day, you can vote early at any of your county’s designated locations.
Election Day Voting: Tuesday, November 4. You must vote at your registered polling location.
Track Your Ballot: Visit your county’s Board of Elections website to confirm your vote was received.
Why Students’ Votes Count
Despite making up a significant portion of the population, college students are often underrepresented at the polls. “It’s very hard for college students to be aware of everything that’s going on,” Almonacy noted. “But we’re really part of a big demographic, so it’s important for us to try and get our votes out there.”
Mori agrees: “The state elections [rather than federal elections] have a more direct impact on you if you live in New Jersey.... Everything from local and state taxes to resources for public schools—it's all done by the state and your local town or city.”
Make It Count
Whether it’s your first time voting or your fifth, this election is a chance to shape the policies that affect your daily life. From housing affordability to education funding, your voice matters.
As Cougars, let’s climb higher together by registering, pledging, and voting!
