Early Tuesday afternoon, polling sites across seven New Jersey counties faced disruption when a series of email bomb threats were received. The affected counties included Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic. Law-enforcement agencies responded promptly to secure each location, with some polling places reopening quickly and others redirecting voters to alternate nearby sites.
New Jersey’s Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor issued statements confirming the threats had been investigated and deemed not credible, and that voting was proceeding safely. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also assisted state and local authorities in the response.
The timing of the incident raised concerns given the high-stakes nature of this year’s gubernatorial race between Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Voting disruptions like these, even when brief, can heighten voter anxiety and logistical challenges on a major election day.
Observers noted that while no direct evidence of targeted suppression was identified, the pattern mirrors similar bomb-threat incidents at polling places during recent elections. Some experts suggest such disruptions may aim to generate chaos or reduce turnout in critical areas.
Election officials stressed that voters should continue to show up and cast their ballots, reassuring the public that safety protocols were in place and that contingency measures had been activated.
