It’s Election Day in New Jersey. Have you voted yet?
Several polling locations across the state received bomb threats on Election Day, prompting temporary closures and police investigations in several counties.
Authorities have confirmed that the threats were sent over email to polling locations in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic Counties. Law enforcement agencies quickly responded and secured the sites, determining that the bomb threats were not credible.
Gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill responded to in the incident. “The threats reported this morning in several counties are a clear attempt to undermine our democratic system and intimidate New Jerseyans from going to the polls to exercise their right to vote,” she said in a statement on social media. “Let me be clear: there is no credible threat to New Jerseyans’ safety at the polls.”
Some polling locations briefly closed as police swept the buildings. Others remained open with increased security detail. At certain polling locations, voters were redirected to nearby sites to cast their votes,
Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way said officials are working closely with local and federal partners to ensure safety at polling places.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin released a statement following the incident:
“Early this morning, law enforcement responded to threats that were received by email involving certain polling places in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic Counties. Law enforcement officers have responded at each affected polling place, and they have worked swiftly to secure these polling locations and ensure the safety of every voter,” he said. “Make no mistake: We will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with our elections, and we will swiftly hold accountable anyone who seeks to interfere with the safety or security of our electoral process.”
In Newark, officials traced one threat to phishing emails sent to a polling site on Gotthard Street. Police determined the messages were fraudulent. The source of the emails remains under investigation.
The New Jersey Division of Elections, along with the Office of the Attorney General and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, continues to monitor activity across the state to ensure voter safety.
Despite disruptions, voting continued throughout the day as New Jersey residents cast ballots in the neck-and-neck governor’s race between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill.
Officials urged voters to remain alert and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.