WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman
Joe Gruters released the following statement after the Gloucester County New
Jersey Republican Party successfully challenged their County Clerk’s unlawful
ballot changes:
“New Jersey voters deserve fair and secure elections,” said
Chairman Gruters. “Democrats in New Jersey secretly
redesigned the traditional ballot design to make it harder for voters to
choose their candidates. A judge agreed the redesign violated the law — yet
another example of Democrats trying to game the system.”
Background:
- The RNC supported the Gloucester County New Jersey Republican
Party’s lawsuit challenging their County Clerk’s unlawful ballot redesign.
- This redesign was a deliberate effort to undermine county GOP
efforts. After all, the Gloucester County Democratic Committee admitted
that they believe the column ballot might hurt Democrat voters.
- Clerk James Hogan secretly redesigned the ballot to
group candidates by office instead of displaying the candidates in
columns by political party.
- On Friday, Gloucester
County Judge ruled the redesign violated state law.
- The Judge ordered the County to reimburse the county GOP $26,000 for
advertising costs urging voters to “Vote Column A” in anticipation of a
proper ballot format.
- This case follows a similar lawsuit in Cumberland
County last year, where the county GOP also challenged Democrat-led
ballot changes.
- Since the ruling did not include an order
directing the County Clerk to correct and reprint these ballots, the GOP
has filed an application for an emergency appeal.
