Asm. Scharfenberger Bill Would Create Voter Issue & Complaint Database

Middletown, N.J. –Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Monmouth) has introduced legislation (A5453) seeking to further solidify voter confidences in our election systems through the creation of an incident reporting and complaint database. Under the bill, the Secretary of State would be required to document civil rights violations, voter fraud, or other incidents or complaints related to the conduct of an election within New Jersey:

“Ensuring our elections remain honest and free from any possible fraud is a paramount issue,” Scharfenberger said. “This bill will not only give residents another tool to help identify and root out questionable acts, but allows officials the ability to keep track of any and all concerns. The cornerstone of our society is based in having honest elections and they must be protected at every turn.”

The Secretary of State, in real time during an election, must compile any incidents or complaints submitted to the Department of State or to county election officials. This information would then be shared with the New Jersey Attorney General’s and U.S. District Attorney’s Offices to investigate.

Subsequently, the bill also directs that polling locations visibly post contact details for how eligible voters can report any problems:

“Voters need to be confident that any incident which impacts our elections or their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote is not only noted, but dealt with swiftly,” continued Scharfenberger. “No one, no eligible voter, should ever have to worry about such a thing – my bill will go a long way to keeping it that way.”