rather than jusing jQuery etc. one can use a template instance method such as find http://docs.meteor.com/#template_find

get_form_values.js

   Template.application_security.events({
        "click #requirementAdd": function (evt, templ) {

            var requirement = templ.find("#requirementText").value;
            var motivation  = templ.find("#motivationText").value;
            var example     = templ.find("#exampleText").value;
            var technology  = templ.find("#technologyText").value;

            Requirements.insert({
                                 requirement: requirement,
                                 motivation: motivation,
                                 example: example,
                                 technology: technology,
                                 votes: 0,
                                 email: getCurrentEmail(),
                                 upvoters: [Meteor.userId()]
                              });
        },

        "click .upvote": function (evt, templ) {
            Requirements.update(this._id, {
                              $inc: {votes: 1},
                              $addToSet: {upvoters: Meteor.userId()}
            });
        }

    });