'Unprecedented' Situation As Challengers Register To Be At Ridgewood Polling Locations

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Fifteen residents, including two council members, are registered to act as candidate’s challengers at the village’s polling locations during the municipal election Tuesday. They are authorized to challenge voter numbers and make sure voters still live where they did when they registered.

Per state law, challengers have the “power to challenge the right to vote of any person” and may ask questions to determine a person’s right to vote, most notably if the person still lives at the address they said they did when they registered. A voter may have to present photo identification with the correct address as a result of a challenger’s inquiry.

Challengers are different from poll workers and may not approach voting machines. All challengers must wear a county-issued badge.

The Bergen County Board of Elections certified the following people to act as challengers at village polling places during the election Tuesday:

• Councilwoman Susan Knudsen
• Councilman Michael Sedon
• Lorraine Reynolds
• Saurabh Dani
• Christine Clay
• Linda Kotch
• Angela Stoehr
• Carrie Giordano
• Allison Kopec
• Ellen McNamara
• Marla Sherman
• Ellie Gruber
• Frank DelVecchio
• John McCooe
• Frances McCarthy

Challengers may also be present while votes are being counted and have the power to challenge the counting.

Knudsen said challengers are "commonplace in any election to ensure the integrity of the voting process."

Knudsen said that while she has not been to any polling place yet, "I've not heard of any voter being challenged. They're only out there to get the numbers."

Challengers cannot challenge a voter based on: His or her race, sex, creed, ethnic origin, where they live or how they might vote, per state law.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn called the situation “unprecedented and potentially disturbing.”

Clerk Heather Mailander said she did not recall the last time there were challengers for a Ridgewood municipal election, nor did she recall having current councilmembers serve as challengers.

Only one challenger may be present at a time in a polling location. More than two are permitted, but only with permission from the county board of elections. A like number on behalf of any opposing party candidate or public question must be present at that same location.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.