RNC sues New Jersey election officials over voter roll records
GOP officials gave state and county administrators until Sept. 15 to fulfill the records requests.
The Republican National Committee, along with state GOP leaders, filed a federal lawsuit against New Jersey’s chief election official and election administrators in five counties, alleging they failed to provide voter-roll maintenance records required under federal law.
The lawsuit was filed by the RNC, the New Jersey Republican Party, U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco. It names state election officials and election offices in Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
According to GOP leaders, the legal action follows findings by the RNC and NJGOP alleging that noncitizens were registered on New Jersey voter rolls — a concern Republican leaders say was later acknowledged by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The RNC said it submitted official requests for voter-roll maintenance records to examine how the alleged noncitizen registrations occurred and to review steps officials are taking to remove ineligible voters. Under federal law, state and local election boards are required to make public records related to voter-list maintenance available.
“The RNC exposed noncitizens on New Jersey’s voter rolls ... Now, election officials are hiding the records that would tell voters how it happened,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement. “Garden State voters deserve the truth, and we’re taking these left-wing officials to court to demand answers.”
GOP officials said they gave state and county administrators until Sept. 15 to fulfill the records requests before filing the lawsuit in federal court.
State and county election officials had not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
