Overview
- A law firm for the New Jersey Republican Party sent an Oct. 20 letter to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon seeking federal monitors for vote-by-mail handling in Passaic County for the Nov. 4 election.
- The letter also asks the Civil Rights Division to monitor Board of Elections access around the clock to safeguard ballot receipt and processing.
- Republican members say an Oct. 17 Board of Elections proposal for 24-hour cameras and a sign-in/sign-out log deadlocked after Chairman John Currie and a Democratic appointee voted no.
- Citing prior cases, the GOP points to 2020 Paterson mail-in ballot irregularities, an ongoing prosecution of former council president Alex Mendez, disqualification of about 20% of ballots, and reports of 800 ballots found improperly bundled.
- Party officials say they will provide additional materials to the DOJ, including an audio recording, and news outlets report no public response yet from the Justice Department or county officials as the Ciattarelli–Sherrill governor’s race remains competitive.