As New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race tightens, the choice between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli is dividing and defining everyday votes. From college campuses to dining halls, conversations about integrity, affordability, and time itself reveal how personal this election has become for working New Jerseyans.
With polls showing the race nearly even, this election has evolved into one of the most competitive in recent state history. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and congresswoman, has centered her campaign on trust and affordability. Meanwhile, her opponent, Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman, has cast himself as a pragmatic alternative, criticizing her proposed electric bill freeze as “gimmicky.” As the rhetoric intensifies, both candidates are competing to win over voters who are stretched thin in terms of time and patience.
As the race tightens, college campuses have become quiet battlegrounds for civic engagement, not between candidates, but rather awareness and apathy. At Rowan University, a nonpartisan student group known as Rowan Votes is working to change that by assisting students in registration, learning about state issues, and understanding how state elections can shape local politics. The program is part of Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship (RIPPAC) and was founded by Director Ben Dworkin, along with co-coordinator Kathy Javian.
“Rowan Votes is all about helping students navigate the voting process and feel confident about participation,” said Vinnie Morales-Ortiz, a 22-year-old outreach volunteer for Rowan Votes. “We provide support for anyone who needs it and aim to make civic engagement accessible and understandable.”
Founded in 2019, Rowan Votes grew out of the university’s involvement in the All In Campus Democracy Challenge. The non-profit organization seeks to track and improve student vote participation. As well as empowering colleges and universities across the nation to achieve excellence in non-partisan student democratic engagement.
Overall, Rowan Votes emphasizes three key pillars: registration, education, and mobilization. Volunteers like Zoey Marie Wong, an 18-year-old political science and law and justice double major, table across campus and help students through the voter registration process. She and her peers also conduct class presentations to help students understand how registration works, what’s on the ballot, and where their local polling stations are.
“A big part of the job is helping students understand the voting process and helping them not feel confused or overwhelmed by it,” said Wong.
Despite the efforts of groups like Rowan Votes, the overall political awareness on college campuses like Rowan University remains shallow for many. Many of the students and staff walking along Rowan Boulevard say they rarely hear about state policies beyond the clips on their social media feeds on apps like TikTok and Instagram.
“I haven’t really been following up on it [the election] as much as I should,” said Karen Deshields, a service worker at Gourmet Dining. “I’m still weighing in on which way to vote. Whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican. I’m still stuck in limbo right now because I don’t really know which way to go.”
Deshields is just one of many people across campus who aren’t informed enough about the issues within New Jersey and the policies surrounding the candidates.
According to the new data by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), one of the key findings in the 2024 presidential election was that 47% voter turnout was from youth. The data suggest that young people’s electoral participation last year was slightly lower than in 2020, but higher than participation in 2016.
Although some are still looking into which state issues matter to them and which candidate aligns best with their values, there are a few people who have made their decision on who they’ll be voting for.
“I lean more left, to anti-corruption,” said Elisha Love, a 29-year-old law and justice major. “Mikie Sherrill just seems like a more reputable candidate.”
As election day draws closer, Rowan Votes is working around the clock to ensure that students, staff, faculty, and members of the community have the necessary tools, providing nonpartisan information, voter registration support, and guidance for early or mail-in voting. Dr. Kathy Javian, assistant teaching professor of political science and economics, stressed the importance of young voters making their voices heard at the polls.
“Politicians pay attention to turnout,” said Dr. Javian. “If more 18 to 29-year-olds vote, candidates and elected officials are more likely to engage with their concerns.”
To make voting easier, students and residents have multiple options. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, this year, while early in-person voting runs from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2. Those who wish to vote by mail must have requested their ballots by Tuesday, Oct. 28.
For general election information, students can visit Rowan Votes’ website or the NJ Voter Information Portal. Nonpartisan guides to candidates and ballot initiatives are available at vote411.org and Ballotpedia. Students planning to vote in person should check their assigned polling location.
Rowan Votes and co-coordinator Dr. Javian also encourage students to reach out directly to them with any questions and to take advantage of these resources to ensure their voices are being heard in this election.
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