How you should vote on N.J.'s three ballot questions in 2020 | Inquirer Endorsement

The Inquirer Editorial Board makes recommendations for how to vote in N.J.'s ballot questions in the 2020 election.

Ashley Power of Burlington County, New Jersey votes at the ballot dropbox set up outside the Medford Twp Public Safety building at 91 Union St. Medford, NJ on election day, July 7, 2020.Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / File Photograph

Published Oct. 16, 2020, 5:00 a.m. ET

Statewide, New Jersey’s ballot includes three public questions: Amending the state constitution to legalize recreational marijuana; offering peacetime veterans the same state tax break as combat veterans; and automatically postponing legislative redistricting when census data is delayed, as may occur due to the pandemic.

We support marijuana legalization and tax breaks for veterans. Vote YES on Questions 1 and 2. But changing the constitution to automatically delay redistricting every time census data is only slightly late is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Redistricting delays are advantageous to incumbents and dilute the influence of growing communities. New Jersey voters should vote NO on Question 3.

About Inquirer Endorsements

Prior to each election, the Inquirer’s Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom, identifies the races where an endorsement can help readers understand where candidates stand on issues and why we think voters should support (or not support) a particular candidate.

We think all elections are important and try to cover as many as we can. We research the candidates' backgrounds through the work of our newsroom colleagues, as well as through our own reporting. The Board also hosts meetings with candidates running in contended races, where we ask them about their stance on the issues we think are most important to their constituents. This year, we held virtual meetings with them on Zoom. The meetings are on the record.

We invite your comments on this process and our endorsements at opinion@inquirer.com. If you’d like your comments to be considered for our letters to the editor page, please include your address and phone number (not for publication) so we can verify your identity.