HACKENSACK—The Republican National Committee has filed a lawsuit seeking the names and political affiliations of poll workers who served during the Nov. 4, 2025 general election and the state’s nine-day early voting period.
The complaint, filed March 2 against the Bergen County Board of Elections, challenges the county’s refusal to release the information in response to an Open Public Records Act request. A hearing is scheduled in Superior Court on March 27.
Citing an OPRA exemption for emergency security information, the Bergen County Board of Elections declined to provide the names and party affiliations requested by the RNC.
In its complaint, the RNC argued that public disclosure is necessary to ensure bipartisan staffing at polling locations.
“There is a strong public interest in ensuring voting sites are staffed with bipartisan poll workers,” the committee wrote in its filing. “Accordingly, the RNC’s legitimate interest in oversight of election integrity far outweighs any generalized or speculative confidentiality interest asserted by Defendant.”
According to the complaint, 16 of New Jersey’s 21 counties have already provided the requested information. Those counties include Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren.
It was not immediately clear why the request was made to 17 counties rather than all 21.
The Bergen County Board of Elections cited an OPRA exemption covering emergency security information, stating that releasing poll workers’ information could jeopardize the safety of facilities or individuals.
The RNC’s filing argues the county’s denial does not adequately explain why the records qualify for that exemption and violates both OPRA and the common law right of access.
Pascack Press contacted Board of Elections Chair Richard Miller on March 17 for comment. Miller referred inquiries to the county attorney, who directed questions to the county press office. No response was received by press time.
Pascack Press also contacted the attorney representing the RNC to ask about the purpose of the request and whether settlement discussions were underway. Attorney Josiah Contarino of Contarino Roth LLC in Newark declined to comment.
In the Nov. 4, 2025 gubernatorial election, Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli statewide by nearly 14 percentage points. Locally, Ciattarelli carried six of eight Pascack Valley municipalities.
17-year-olds eligible to vote in June primary
Bergen County election officials say some 17-year-olds will be able to vote in the June 2 Primary Election for the first time under a new state law.
Superintendent of Elections Debra Francica said residents who are 17 but will turn 18 by Nov. 3, 2026 may vote in the primary.
County and municipal clerks will soon receive updated voter registration forms reflecting the new eligibility rules. Existing forms may continue to be used until the new versions arrive, Francica said.
County Clerk John Hogan has been visiting schools to explain the election process and the new law. Officials encouraged residents to contact the clerk’s office for more information.
Board of Elections Chair Richard Miller also plans to visit Bergen County high schools to recruit student poll workers for the June 2 primary and the Nov. 3 general election. Miller noted that student workers do not staff early-voting locations.
To register to vote in New Jersey, residents must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, and residents of the county for at least 30 days before the election. Individuals serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense are not eligible to register.
The deadline to register for the June 2 primary is 21 days before the election.
RELATED: “Poll workers in training: Record number of teens step up to run the vote; county partners in civics program” by Michael Olohan.