New NJ Police Guidance At Polling Locations Issued To Curb Voter Intimidation

NEW JERSEY — The state’s Acting Attorney General recently issued revised guidelines for law enforcement on their role in local elections, effectively banning them from polling locations.

The revised guidance comes after many state lawmakers expressed concern over “voter intimidation.”

“New Jersey is fully committed to protecting the right to vote in free and fair democratic elections,” Acting Attorney General Platkin said. “The role of law enforcement officers in elections is limited, but we have zero tolerance for criminal acts of voter intimidation or interference.”

The updated guidance is addressed to law enforcement chief executives and County Prosecutors and points out that civilian election officials — not law enforcement officers — are in charge of administering elections at the county and local levels.

In January, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that said plainclothes or uniformed police need to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from polling stations or drop boxes.

The law was originally issued in 2020, following reports of voter interference in other states. It was then updated in 2021 to include the state’s adoption of in-person early voting.

“At the state level, the Division of Elections within the Office of the Secretary of State is entrusted with election-administration responsibilities — not the Department of Law & Public Safety or the Office of the Attorney General,” Platkin said.

The updated guidance highlights five key rules:

1. No police officer – whether on-duty or off-duty, and whether in or out of uniform – can remain or stand within 100 feet of an early voting location, polling place, or ballot dropbox during an election, unless requested by election officials in response to a specific emergency. Exceptions include if an officer’s residence is within 100 feet of these locations or if the officer is voting in a personal capacity.
2. No full-time or part-time law enforcement officer can serve as a poll worker or as an authorized elections challenger, unless off-duty. Under no circumstances can an officer participating as a poll worker or authorized challenger, wear a police officer’s uniform or carry an exposed weapon.
3. If police officers are needed to keep peace and order at a polling station, a poll worker must make such a request only with regard to a “specific emergency, allegation of criminal conduct, or disturbance that exists at the time the request for assistance is made.” Officers who respond to the call must remain at the site only for as long as it takes to address and resolve the matter.
4. When an officer is sent to an early voting location or polling place, the Secretary of State must be notified by the county board of elections or county election superintendent. They must maintain a record of such dispatches, including information on the time of dispatch, polling place location, the reason for the dispatch, as well as the name of the officer, badge number, time spent by the officer on-site, and the outcome of the incident.
5. Police officers can assist election officials with the transport of specific election materials to and from an early voting location, polling place, or ballot dropbox.

Residents with concerns about voting and elections are encouraged to call the Division of Elections at its Voting Information & Assistance Line: 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837).

To see the updated guidance, click here.

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