As the death toll rises in Palestine to over 35,000, Hudson County is making its mark as the second-highest New Jersey county with the most “uncommitted” votes in response to President Biden’s support of Israel.
With 6,129 votes, Hudson County became a prominent voice in the presidential primary on June 4, sending a message that the United States’ involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict has become a crucial point in the upcoming election.
Other New Jersey counties echoed this sentiment as Middlesex County had the most “Uncommitted” voters in the state with 7,261 votes and Bergen County was the third with 5,346. New Jersey had 47,828 “Uncommitted” votes in total, according to the National Election Pool and NBC News.
These record-breaking numbers did not happen overnight. On April 1, two months before NJ’s presidential primary, the Democratic Socialists of America were able to secure 48 delegates across New Jersey in order to get “Uncommitted” on the ballot. This move was inspired by Michigan’s victory in securing two delegates and over 100,000 “Uncommitted” votes in their presidential primary on Feb. 27.
“The inclusion of the ‘Uncommitted’ option on the ballot serves as not just a powerful statement of dissent but a testament to our unwavering commitment to principles of justice, equity, and human dignity,” Mia Matthews, a member of Uncommitted New Jersey, an organization committed to educating voters about Palestine, said in a press release.
Several organizations like Uncommitted New Jersey, Ceasefire Now New Jersey and Instagram account New Jersey 4 Palestine have posted infographics and resources to get Hudson County and New Jersey residents alike ready to hit the polls. However, Hudson County residents have already taken the responsibility to make their voices heard on the ballot.
Noor, who chose to remain semi-anonymous for her privacy, is a local Palestinian-American. Through posting informational flyers, hosting events and everyday conversation, Noor has dedicated her life to educating others about Palestine.
Noor believes it is important to educate people about Palestine because the events happening affect beyond Palestine. Locals in the U.S. have faced many hate crimes and backlash for being Palestinian or speaking on the issue.
“I don’t even feel safe in my own country right now because of the hate crimes and everything, the fact that we are controlled by Zionism, I think it’s important that we know. It’s a humanitarian thing,” she told Slice of Culture.
She encourages people to be unafraid of having open conversations about what is happening to promote understanding and acceptance of each other. Noor acknowledges that these conversations have helped people recognize the existence of Palestine as a country.
“We’re at a good point. Just two years ago, if you were to come to me, no one would know anything about [Palestine.] Even in schools, I would say I’m from Palestine, and everyone would be like: ‘What? What is this?’ Or they would be like, ‘Oh, is that Pakistan? Is that Israel?’ People didn’t even know there was something called Palestine [that] existed before, and I’m talking about educated people: teachers, students…,” she added.
Former New Jersey Senate candidate Patricia Campos Medina and current Jersey City mayor candidate Mussab Ali share the same sentiment as they use their platforms to call for a ceasefire.
In an interview with Slice of Culture, Campos Medina said: “I’m one of the first candidates for the United States Senate who calls for a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza because part of our foreign policy should be to advance peace and protect civilians’ childrens and families in times of war.”
Ali has shared Jersey City’s impact in the movement to vote “Uncommitted” on both of his Instagram pages @aliforjc and @mussabalijc. In a post where he shares that 18.2% of Jersey City has voted “Uncommitted,” he wrote: “On Tuesday, voters in Jersey City sent a powerful message to @joebiden to protest what’s been happening in Gaza. The US must do everything in its power to enact an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”
Noor strongly encourages everyone to use their knowledge of how Palestine affects the polls in the upcoming election. While she emphasizes the importance of voters, she also calls upon politicians and candidates to open their minds as well.
“These elected officials that represent us, they should listen to what we have to say,” she said.
Many have argued that the uncommitted vote is throwing away a vote, but Noor believes that it sends a message that the people will hold politicians accountable and serves as a reminder of our democracy.
“It’s our right to vote for whatever and whoever we want. If people are scared of that, then that means there is truly something wrong with our elected officials and we need to change them. If we can’t find [a candidate] that represents us, we shouldn’t be committed to vote for one that commits a genocide. All [of the current candidates] are complicit in genocide, and if we’re saying we’re against it for months and they’re not listening that means it’s our choice. We are in a democratic country.”
