NJ Councilwoman, Husband Charged With Faking Way Onto Election Ballot: Prosecutor

LUMBERTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Lumberton Township Committeewoman Gina LaPlaca and her husband, Jason Carty, were charged in connection with election fraud in the 2026 Primary race, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said.

LaPlaca, 47, was charged with fourth-degree making a false statement under oath, third-degree knowingly filing a false petition, two counts of third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

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Carty, 49, was charged with third-degree knowingly filing a false petition, two counts of third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

According to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, LaPlaca was found to have been fraudulently added to the Democratic Primary ballot in the June 2026 Lumberton Township Committee vote.

Multiple people whose names and alleged signatures appeared on LaPlaca's nominating petition indicated that they neither signed nor approved anyone else to sign on their behalf in favor of her nomination.

The petition was given to the Lumberton Township Municipal Clerk by Carty with an affidavit that LaPlaca signed where she swore she "personally circulated the petition [and] that such petition was signed by each of the signers thereof in his/her own handwriting[.]"

Both Carty and LaPlaca "collected" signatures for the tally, according to officials. LaPlaca would not have qualified as a candidate without those fraudulent marks.

LaPlaca and Carty are scheduled for their first Superior Court appearance on September 21 in Mount Holly.

Patch has reached out to LaPlaca's office for comment and is yet to hear back.

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