Senator Sam Thompson (R-12) released the following statement in response to news of a fifth person implicated in a vote-by-mail bribery scheme in Hoboken:

“This most recent conviction represents yet another example of the intentional abuse of our vote-by-mail system.

“Our elections and our very democracy will continue to be undermined until we implement better safeguards and deterrents, including stronger penalties like those I have proposed, to combat this type of voter fraud.”

Thompson is a sponsor of S-3184, which would increase penalties for extreme cases of voter fraud to a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The legislation was formally introduced on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.