NJ GOP urges DOJ Civil Rights Division to oversee Passaic County mail-in ballot counting

The New Jersey Republican State Committee has requested that the Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights deploy monitors to oversee the processing of mail-in ballots in Passaic County for the upcoming election in November.

The letter, sent to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon by a law firm representing the committee, stated, the "request that the Division of Civil Rights dispatch monitors to the Passaic County Board of Elections to oversee the receipt and processing of vote-by-mail ballots ('VBM') in the November 4, 2025 General Election." They also asked "that the Division of Civil Rights take steps to monitor access to the Board of Elections around the clock to ensure the integrity of the voting process."

"Passaic County has a long and sordid history of VBM fraud with multiple indictments for ballot stuffing and falsifying VBM ballots in recent elections," the letter continued, adding that despite the indictments, "the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has proven incapable of prosecuting these matters; indicted politicians remain in office years after their initial indictment."

"It is clear that the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is incapable of enforcing the law and protecting the integrity of elections in Passaic County."

The letter said that it was not just to New Jersey Attorney General’s Office "at fault," and that the Passaic County Board of Elections and Chairman John Currie, who is also the Democratic County Chairman of Passaic County, "are equally at fault." 

"In at least one instance in 2020, news reports indicate hundreds of stolen, falsified ballots were received in Passaic. Mr Currie’s responsibility as Chairman of the Board of Elections is to ensure that illegal VBM ballots are not counted."

Despite the rule, Currie "and his Democratic colleges routinely stand in opposition to basic transparency, including the County Board of Elections taking reasonable steps to prevent stolen, falsified VBM ballots from being submitted and counted," the letter stated. 

During an October 17 Passaic County Board of Elections meeting, GOP members proposed that 24-hour surveillance video cameras be placed in the room where the ballots are stored and access logooks be utilized "to ensure that proper procedures are followed in connection with the receipt, processing and verification of VBM ballots. 

"Chairman Currie and his Democratic appointed colleague opposed these measures, voting against the safeguards proposed by their Republican counterparts and deadlocking the Board in a tie. Given the history of VBM fraud in Passaic County including under Chairman Currie’s watch, it is concerning that he would oppose reasonable, non-intrusive measures to ensure the integrity of the VBM ballots."

"Republican stakeholders, including the Passaic County Republican Committee Chair, have information regarding VBM ballot fraud that we are prepared to share with the Division. We also have at least one audio recording to share that bears directly on these issues."

The New Jersey GOP wrote on X, "Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and in Passaic County, that principle is once again being put to the test. Today the NJGOP formally demanded the Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights send monitors to oversee the vote-by-mail counting process conducted by the Passaic County Board of Elections. When officials resist transparency, it raises serious questions about what they are trying to hide."

It added, "We’re fighting for you and will leave no stone unturned. Now it’s your turn to fight back. Vote Early In-Person October 25 through November 2 or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4."

The letter ocmes amid a heated gubernatorial race in the state. Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is running against Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill to fill term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy's seat. When asked about the first things they would do in office at a debate earlier in October, Ciattarelli said he would lower energy costs for NEw Jersey residents by pulling out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Sherill, however, said, "I want to join the court case against the tariffs that the President's implementing right now. That's one of the number one things I hear about as I speak to thousands of New Jerseyans, is how these tariff costs are raising everything from a cup of coffee to the groceries they buy to make dinner at night."

Per RealClearPolling’s average of polls, Sherill has a four-point lead over Ciattarelli in polls conducted between September 22 and October 15.