Facts vs Fiction: Why We Must Vote YES to Ensure Transparent and Accountable Elections

This November, West Windsor residents face a critical decision: whether to shift from nonpartisan to partisan municipal elections. With misinformation clouding the debate, it’s essential that voters understand the facts—especially when that misinformation comes from figures with a tarnished track record, such as Alison Miller.

Miller, a former council president who lost her seat in 2019 following a hit-and-run scandal and a history of shady backroom dealings, is spreading outright lies about how partisan elections work.                     

Let’s set the record straight.

Falsehoods: "Mixed Tickets" and Candidate Access

Miller states that only nonpartisan elections allow "all qualified candidates to run on mixed tickets, if they so choose" and that "primaries [….] limit who can run with whom."

This grossly misrepresents the process.

The Truth: According to the Mercer County Clerk, Paula Sollami-Covello, under partisan elections any candidate can run independently on the November ballot, regardless of their party affiliation. A Republican, Democrat, or unaffiliated voter may run together without the backing of any party. The primary election, however, does determine which candidates receive official party endorsement. Candidates who prefer to stay independent are free to run without a party affiliation and avoid party endorsement altogether.  Coalitions of registered voters can run together regardless of political party affiliation, no different than in the current nonpartisan model.  So, a mixed slate without party endorsement may still run - just as Mandel, Gawas, & Stevens did in 2023.

Miller seems to be manipulating the facts to suggest that nonpartisan elections offer greater access, when in reality, both systems offer ways for independent voices to run. The significant difference is that partisan elections provide voters with more transparency by listing candidates' affiliations upfront during the general election.

Second Lie: Finding Candidate Affiliations Is "Easy"

Miller absurdly suggests that West Windsor residents, all 20,000 registered voters, can simply "ask candidates" for their party affiliation. This is both impractical and naive.

The Truth: As confirmed by the Mercer County Clerk, the only official way to obtain candidate party registration information is through an OPRA request (Open Public Records Act). This is not a user-friendly process for the average resident, nor should voters have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to discover basic information about their elected officials.

Miller’s proposal is not just impractical—it’s condescending. To expect voters to individually contact every candidate or file public records requests just to uncover affiliations is absurd. If Miller truly believed in transparency, she’d support a system that makes this information available upfront, on the ballot.

The Real Story: Why Voting YES Matters

Those supporting nonpartisan elections want to cling to a system that keeps voters in the dark and candidates unaccountable. They’ve demonstrated they’ll say anything—even outright lies—to maintain the status quo. But the Public Question gives us the opportunity to embrace transparency, accountability, and informed voting.

Partisan elections do not limit voter choice. They enhance it by giving voters clear, accessible information about candidates’ affiliations. With this knowledge, voters can better understand who aligns with their values and who will fight for their interests.

This November, let’s reject misinformation and vote for a system that respects the intelligence of West Windsor voters by making the facts accessible to all. Vote YES to bring transparency to our local elections. It’s time to move forward with a system that serves the people—not the special interests hiding behind backroom deals.

For more facts about the public question, visit the official resource here: WW4Representation Fact Sheet.