Several polling locations across New Jersey were temporarily closed Tuesday morning after officials reported receiving emailed threats on Election Day, prompting swift law enforcement responses and renewed assurances from state leaders about the security of the vote.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin, a Democrat, said polling places in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic counties were targeted in the early hours of Tuesday. “Voters should continue to have confidence that they can cast their ballot without fear of intimidation,” Platkin said in a statement, adding that law enforcement officers had been dispatched to each site and that some polling places had already reopened. Voters at affected locations, he said, were being redirected to nearby sites.
Platkin vowed a strong response from his office, warning that officials “will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with our elections” and would “swiftly hold accountable anyone who seeks to interfere with the safety or security of our electoral process.”
The incident comes as New Jersey voters choose their next governor in a race between Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill and Republican former state Representative Jack Ciattarelli. The contest has drawn significant attention, as Ciattarelli seeks to appeal to suburban and working-class voters frustrated by the state’s high taxes and Democratic control.
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Tahesha Way said her office was “aware” of the threats and was “doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers.” She said the state was coordinating with local and federal agencies “to ensure a smooth and safe election.” Way also encouraged “every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote” before polls closed at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The Department of Justice announced last month that it would send monitors to polling locations in Passaic County, a move it said was designed to safeguard voters’ rights and maintain transparency.
While state officials worked to restore order, some Democrats quickly framed the threats as part of a broader attack on American democracy. Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, called the situation “incredibly concerning” and “an illustration of the attacks we’re seeing on our democracy.”
Mamdani also used the moment to criticize President Donald Trump and his allies, accusing them of “trying to intimidate voters with baseless allegations of voter fraud.” He claimed such efforts were aimed at “repressing the voice of Americans across this country.”
Republicans, however, have long argued that concerns over election security are legitimate and that raising questions about voter integrity should not be equated with intimidation. The Trump administration and its supporters have contended that tighter safeguards — including voter ID laws and stricter mail-in ballot procedures — strengthen public confidence rather than undermine it.
As the day progressed, state officials said voting had largely resumed across affected areas, though the threats briefly disrupted the rhythm of Election Day. Authorities have not yet identified suspects or specified the nature of the threats, but investigations are ongoing.
For many New Jersey voters, the temporary closures served as a reminder of the fragile balance between vigilance and accessibility in an increasingly polarized political climate — and the enduring importance of ensuring both election integrity and voter confidence.
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