The upcoming Presidential election is one of the most crucial in years. Whatever your political affiliation, a dangerous theme being promoted is that elections are fraudulent, invalid, unsafe and not free. Nothing could be further from the truth! Indeed, fostering such a narrative undermines voter confidence in the elective process. This is a technique embraced by bad actors ---both foreign and domestic.
New Jersey, like other states, has secure and safe voting. We are, in fact, unique in that our election process is bifurcated, splitting functions between an independent, bi-partisan Board of Elections and an elected County Clerk. Dividing election functions promotes a balance of power which helps to insure accountability and transparency in the electoral process.
Recently, there has been much misinformation circulating regarding non-citizens voting in the upcoming Presidential election. Simply stated, non-citizens cannot vote in Federal elections. It is against the law for a non-citizen to vote and any non-citizen doing so will incur fines up to and including imprisonment and deportation. Nationally, the incidence of fraud in elections is less than one percent, according to studies conducted in recent years by the Brennan Center, Brookings Institute, Reuters, and the Washington Post, among others. Additionally, each registered voter can only vote once in any election. Election officials receive real time updates on voter activity throughout Election Day, eliminating the possibility of voter fraud.
Ballot drop boxes are under 24/7 camera surveillance and ballots are collected each day by Board of Election staff, protecting the chain of custody. The privacy of the voter is completely protected with regard to all vote-by-mail ballots. Prior to opening the ballots, voter signatures are checked for validity through the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). Each ballot then is opened and counted after the polls close on election night. Vote-by-mail tallies continue to be updated for ten days after the election, allowing vote-by-mail ballots delivered by the post office after election to count as long as they are postmarked no later than Election Day. A voter is also permitted to "cure" their ballot for a missing or questionable signature as long as they provide verifiable proof.
The electronic results from the voting machines are tabulated election night and then paper tapes are tabulated the following day for comparison and accuracy. Unofficial tabulation reports are posted on the Clerk's website and updated daily until certification, which occurs two weeks after the election. Machine audits also are conducted to validate the tabulation process.
There are, of course, real threats to free and valid elections. There are cyber security attacks by bad actors, often couched in "believable" rhetoric. Federal and state agencies monitor these attacks and are in constant contact with election officials throughout the months and weeks preceding Election Day and throughout Election Day itself. Cyber-attack response practice sessions are held regularly for election officials.
Perhaps the biggest threat though to free elections are voters who do not vote. Having a minority of voters decide for the majority is contrary to a healthy democracy. To insure our democracy remains strong, your voice needs to be heard. I urge you to vote in the upcoming election and to vote in all elections, local, county, state and Federal. As a County Clerk for nearly 30 years, I stake my reputation, experience and knowledge on the fact that elections are valid, secure and free.
Joanne Rajoppi, Union County Clerk
