WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, the Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a public
records lawsuit against the Bergen County Board of Elections
after county officials failed to produce records identifying poll workers
assigned to early voting locations during the November 2025 General Election.
The RNC formally requested these documents in accordance with New Jersey law,
but Bergen County has refused to comply.
Republican
National Committee (RNC) Chairman Joe Gruters released the following statement:
“Transparency
isn’t optional in our elections – it’s the bare minimum,” said Chairman
Gruters. “More than a dozen other New Jersey counties have successfully
turned over these basic public records – but Bergen County has refused. This
should concern every voter. The people of New Jersey deserve to know that their
election officials are following the law and that poll workers are being
assigned fairly. Clearly these records are routine, so what does Bergen County
have to hide?”
Background:
- The RNC submitted a formal
request under New
Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) for a list of poll
workers and their assigned early voting locations in Bergen County during
the November 2025 General Election.
- These records are routine
election administration documents and are subject to disclosure under
OPRA.
- The Bergen County Board of
Elections has failed to comply with OPRA – refusing to provide the
requested records as required by law.
- Sixteen other New
Jersey counties already have fulfilled the same or very similar
requests, showing that the records are standard and not exempt from
disclosure.
- The RNC is demanding Bergen
County follow public records law to ensure transparency in State
elections.
- Complying with public records
laws promotes accountability and ensures poll workers are assigned fairly
as required by law.
- For example, in 2024, the RNC successfully
sued the Detroit Election Commission for failing to achieve
parity between Republican and Democrat poll workers.
- Last year, the RNC launched its
largest ever records
request, sending public records requests to 48 states and
the District of Columbia seeking documents on how they maintain their
voter registration lists.
- This lawsuit follows RNC
efforts defending President Trump’s election integrity Executive
Order, which implements commonsense safeguards ranging
from mail-in ballot protections to non-citizen voting, among others.
- Stay up to date with the RNC’s
election integrity efforts here.
