The New Jersey Technology Council, the NJTC TechPAC and the NJTC Voter Education Fund have joined forces to deliver the tech community's vote on Election Day through: Project TechVOTE!

Project TechVOTE! is designed to help technology companies make a statement on Election Day. The NJTC's 1,100 plus member companies represent over 350,000 employees.

Through Project TechVOTE!, the NJTC aims to remove all barriers and excuses for voting. Project TechVOTE! will focus on mobilizing the technology community through: Voter Registration Drives, Voter Education, Endorsements & Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Programs. Read on…

You Can't Vote If You Aren't Registered - Register Now

Registering to vote is simple. The attached voter registration application should take you no more than 10 minutes to fill out and mail to the New Jersey Division of Elections. Your tax dollars already paid for the postage so just drop it in the mail after you've followed the directions (printed in red and blue) for cutting and taping the application.

You can get additional forms online at www.NJElections.org or by calling toll-free 1-877-658-6837. Or, stop by your municipal building and visit the clerk's office. It's quick and easy to do. Do it NOW.

Q: I'm Registered to Vote but I'll be in Silicon Valley on Election Day, what do I do?

A: Not a problem. A Civilian Absentee Ballot Application is attached to this newsletter.

A recently enacted law in New Jersey allows anyone to vote via absentee ballot - no reason is needed.

You can apply for an absentee ballot by mail up to 7 days prior to the election and "in person" at the County Clerk's office up until 3 p.m. the day before the election.

Q: How Can I Get My Busy Employees to Register to Vote? Five Easy Steps

• Conduct a competitive voter registration drive with prizes going to your top performers
• Stuff a voter registration form into pay envelopes and mailings to employees
• Voter registration table in cafeteria or at company events
• E-mail reminders
• Article in company newsletter

Q: One vote won't matter.

A: Oh, really? Did you know that some legislative races in 2003 were decided by less than 1,000 votes? Here are some examples:

• District 4 Senate (parts of Camden & Gloucester Counties) - Incumbent Republican George Geist lost his seat to Democrat Fred Madden by 63 votes in the most expensive race in State history. Over $5 million was spent by both sides for a job that pays $49,000 a year.
• District 13 Assembly (parts of Middlesex & Monmouth Counties) - Incumbent Republican Assemblymen Joe Azzolina and Sam Thompson kept their seats in a tight race that saw a spread of only 1,200 votes top to bottom. Azzolina kept his seat by a mere 244 votes.
• District 14 Assembly (parts of Mercer and Middlesex Counties) - Incumbent Democrat Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein won re-election by just 880 votes in a closer-than-expected race. NJTC members - YOU - can have an impact on some of those races - if we take the time to register our employees, educate them on the issues and motivate them to go to the polls.

Q: What in the World is an Assemblyman (woman)?

A: The New Jersey General Assembly is the state's version of the House of Representatives or, the House of the People. In New Jersey, two Assemblypersons are elected in each of the 40 legislative districts.

Assembly members serve for a two-year term.

New Jersey also has a State Senate consisting of 40 members. The State Senate terms are four years in length - with the exception of the first term after the census, which is only two years in length.

Q: What Legislative District Do I Live In?

A: Go to:

www.njleg.state.nj.us to find out. Click municipalities' index, find your town, click to find your district. This district number is linked to your legislative representatives.