Concerns Raised Over Election Surveillance in Passaic County
Republicans in New Jersey are expressing serious concerns regarding the Passaic County Board of Elections, which is controlled by Democrats. They have allegedly refused to permit the installation of surveillance cameras to oversee ballot storage ahead of this year’s critical gubernatorial election.
Additionally, the board is accused of not enforcing a simple sign-in and sign-out log for those accessing mail-in voting, according to the Garden State Republican Party.
This county is particularly significant, having swung in favor of President Trump in an unexpected win during the 2024 elections. Passaic has a troubling history with suspected election fraud.
“In recent years, Passaic County has been a hub for notorious voter fraud schemes and is one of the slowest counties in the entire state to count votes and certify elections,” stated Glenn Paulsen, Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party, in a statement released on Saturday.
“Given this history, it is understandable that the Passaic County Republican Party has reservations about what might be happening outside of public scrutiny, and the NGOP fully supports their legal claims regarding the election.”
The county, known for its large immigrant population—over one-third of residents are foreign-born—ranks as the 10th most populous in New Jersey, with approximately 527,000 inhabitants. It is home to Paterson, the state’s third largest city.
Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli has been engaging with constituents throughout the county, viewing it as a potential pathway to the governor’s office.
While Ciattarelli has echoed the concerns raised by the New Jersey Republican Party, he has refrained from issuing a personal statement on the matter.
He is currently in a tight race against Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill, with various early polls showing them neck-and-neck. In the 2021 election cycle, Ciattarelli narrowly lost Passaic County by just 3.8 percentage points, the closest margin among all counties in New Jersey.
In the previous November election, Trump achieved a remarkable win in Passaic County, securing 49.6% of the vote, a first for a Republican presidential candidate since 1992. In contrast, he had lost the county in 2020 by approximately 16.6 percentage points.
The local city council in Paterson faced turmoil back in 2020 following investigations by state authorities into allegations of postal voting fraud. Prominent city leaders, including Council President Alex Mendez and Councilman Michael Jackson, faced indictments over various charges related to election fraud.
Out of nearly 17,000 votes cast, about 3,190—roughly 20%—were disqualified. Subsequently, a judge called for new elections in November 2020, which Mendez won. The ongoing case against him has new developments, with fresh charges filed in April.
Paulsen urged voters to make their voices heard by the November 4th election, emphasizing the need for change in Passaic County and across New Jersey. He remarked, “We’re careful and vigilant, but it’s vital we ensure that we’re not too big to cheat.”
The New Jersey Republican Party commented on social media, suggesting that, “Democracy may die in the dark…and it appears Passaic has turned off the lights.”
In response, Daniel Bryan, a Democratic strategist and former advisor to outgoing Governor Murphy, criticized the New Jersey Republican Party for allegedly laying the groundwork for election denialism. He said, “Let’s be clear about what this is. They’re aiming to deny the results of the November election. I hope the media recognizes this for what it truly is and speaks out now.”
The newspaper has sought comments from both Ciattarelli’s campaign and officials in Passaic County.
