Editor’s note: This story was revised Sept. 23 with comments from Deputy County Clerk Steve Chong after it was posted Sept. 22 as breaking news based solely on the borough’s notice to residents.
EMERSON—Residents are advised that according to the Bergen County Clerk’s Office, the borough’s 597 vote by mail ballots went out on Sept. 20 before “a significant printing error” was discovered.
You may have received it or will receive it shortly. The ballots are incomplete and do not contain the names of all municipal candidates running in the 2021 General Election.
Fortunately, the county caught the error almost immediately afterward and sent out corrected ballots, indicated as corrected, with an explanatory letter.
The borough advised residents of the gaffe on Sept. 22.
We checked with the County Clerk’s office the same day and spoke with Deputy County Clerk Steve Chong, who is overseeing the election in place of County Clerk John Hogan, who is running for re-election and has recused himself.
Chong said a last-minute change approved locally was sent to the county and that an internal miscommunication at the print shop led to the older version being printed and shipped.
“We remedied it, sending out the correct ballots to everyone, all 597, and included a letter. And we communicated with the Board of Elections so that they know, and they’ll count it properly,” he said.
Chong added, “This is human error — not by my office but I take 100% responsibility for it. I’ve expressed my displeasure to the printer. We did the check process again and I’m happy with it.”
He said Emerson was the only municipality affected, that the error affected Democratic and Republican candidates, and that officials shipped out 69,000 vote by mail ballots across Bergen County.
We pointed out that there are some inclined toward conspiracy theories.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I’m sorry that it happened, and I take full responsibility, but no, that’s not what it is, and if anyone has any questions you can refer them back to me,” he said.
For more information, write Borough Clerk Jane Dietsche at clerk@emersonnj.org, Deputy Clerk Leena Abazza at deputyclerk@emersonnj.org, or call the clerk’s office at (201) 262-6086 option 9.
