Expanding Access, Strengthening Democracy in New Jersey

In a healthy democracy, every eligible voter should have the opportunity to participate fully and freely. Over the years, The Zita Group (TZG) has helped craft and advocate for reforms that expand access and equity in New Jersey’s elections.

We’re especially proud to also share that our Executive Vice President, Beth Dohm, has been appointed to the Mercer County Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Why Voting Accessibility Matters

Voting accessibility isn’t just about ramps and curb cuts; it’s about how well elections, registration and outreach systems are designed to include people with disabilities, older voters, non-English speakers and anyone facing logistical or structural barriers. For too many New Jersey residents, these barriers can determine whether or not they’re able to vote.

What TZG is Doing

At TZG, we’re proud to advance policies that strengthen democracy and expand civic participation. From improving accessibility to modernizing how people engage with government, our work often focuses on making it easier for New Jersey residents to have a voice in the process.

On behalf of the Center for Secure and Modern Elections (CSME), TZG’s Beth Dohm helped lead and developed the legislative strategy that secured the passage and enactment of A-2014 in New Jersey. Working alongside key sponsors in both the Assembly and Senate, she built bipartisan support and worked with voting rights advocates, legislators and state agencies around a shared goal of making voter registration simpler, more secure and more inclusive. On April 17, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed Assembly Bill 2014 into law, officially establishing Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) and making New Jersey the 12th state in the nation to adopt this landmark policy.

Under this law, eligible residents are automatically registered to vote or have their existing registration updated when interacting with designated state agencies such as the Motor Vehicle Commission unless they choose to opt out. These agencies securely transmit verified voter information to election officials, helping keep voter rolls accurate and elections more efficient. New Jersey’s AVR system has since been recognized as one of the most comprehensive in the country, strengthening participation, accessibility and trust in the democratic process.

What’s Next?

As part of this ongoing effort, Beth and the members of the Mercer County Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee will focus on ensuring that every polling place in the county is accessible to all voters, particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities. From inspecting sites to addressing community concerns, they will be making sure voters can fully and fairly participate in the democratic process.

Thanks to Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and Mercer County Commissioners for entrusting Beth with this important work. Stay tuned for more updates!

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About The Zita Group

The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.