On a significant election day in New Jersey, law enforcement and election officials acted quickly to secure polling locations following a series of bomb threats that were later determined to be unfounded.
According to Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who serves as the state’s leading election official, threats were emailed to seven counties, including the pivotal swing county of Passaic, where election monitors were deployed by the Department of Justice.
Law enforcement has determined that there are no credible threats at this time, Way stated. We are doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers and coordinate closely with state, local, and federal partners to ensure a smooth and safe election.
The threats surfaced on the final day of voting during a closely-watched governor's race and come in the wake of last year's election day disturbances due to bomb threat hoaxes, particularly in battleground states.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin confirmed the threats targeted polling places in several counties, including Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic. He noted that some polling locations had reopened while voters at others were redirected to alternate sites to cast their votes.
Law enforcement officers have responded at each affected polling place, working swiftly to secure these environments and ensure every voter's safety, said Platkin.
The FBI's Newark office was involved, assisting local authorities in response to the threats. In Passaic County, three threats forced the quick redirection of voters, but one school building had cleared, allowing voting to resume shortly thereafter.
Passaic is among six counties where the DOJ had previously announced it would send federal observers as part of an initiative to guarantee transparent and secure elections. This move reflects ongoing concerns about election integrity, particularly amid government requests from Republican parties in predominantly Democratic states.
