Susan Scott, the controversial head of the election section at the New Jersey Attorney General’s office who was partly responsible for the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters in advance of last year’s primary election, has left for a post at the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
Scott’s last day at the attorney general’s office was April 2; she began her new post as deputy commissioner of Community Affairs.
“We are grateful for Susan Scott’s many years of dedicated service to the Department of Law and Public Safety, and we look forward to continuing to work together with her as she moves into her new role,” said Sharon Lauchiere, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.
As the Assistant Attorney General in Charge of Elections in the Division of Law, Scott provides legal representation to Boards of Elections in each of the 21 counties and to county superintendents of elections. In those roles, she provides legal guidance on how elections are to be run and policies to be followed by board workers.
During the June 2025 primary election, thousands of letters were sent to voters telling them that they were ineligible to vote. The cause appeared to be a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission mishap related to attempts to obtain a Real ID at the MVC office. Judges eventually figured out what was happening and allowed voters to cast ballots, but that represented just a tiny fraction of the disenfranchised.
Scott had frequently taken anti-voting-rights positions and instructed assistant attorneys general to follow guidelines inconsistent with the governor’s policies, almost as if she were self-employed. She told some county election officials not to tell voters they had the right to appear before a judge to fight their disenfranchisement.
Then First Assistant Attorney General Angela Cai disputed criticism of Scott, saying she displayed the “utmost professionalism and integrity.”
Last year, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham) called for then-Attorney General Matt Platkin to fire Scott.
At the attorney general’s office, she previously served the Community Affairs section chief. Scott was a line deputy in the State Police, Employment and Corrections Section.
