Voter's in Jersey, New York, Defeat State-Wide ERA's

New York and New Jersey voters dealt the federal Equal Rights Amendment two blows yesterday by decisively rejecting referendums on statewide ERAs.

At press time last night, New Yorkers were defeating the amendment by 513, 481 to 353, 133, a 59 to 41 per cent margin. In New Jersey, voters were opposing the state ERA 687, 193 to 654, 550.

A strong negative vote in upstate New York overcame support for the measure in New York City.

ERA supporters had been optimistic about the referendum's chances when contacted before polls closed, and said that approval would spark efforts to complete ratification of the separate federal ERA. New York and New Jersey have already approved the federal equal rights measure.

Mark Gasarch, spokesman for the New York Coalition to Ratify ERA, said the defeat "would demoralize federal [ERA] supporters."

Thirty-four states have approved the federal amendment, which needs 38 states for adoption. The last state to approve the bill did so two years ago.

Volunteer

Spokesmen for the New York and New Jersey pro-ERA groups, which represent more than 100 organizations, called their campaigns a heavily volunteer effort and charged opponents with using "scare tactics," "misstatements" and "lies."

Operation Wake-Up, a White-Plains, N.Y., headquartered group, led ERA opposition in New York, while the Citizen's Committee Against ERA headed the New Jersey opponents.

The amendment was endorsed by the governors of both states and other prominent political figures.

State-wide equal rights amendments have been adopted in 15 states. A Massachusetts ERA is slated for the November 1976 ballot.