N.J. election chief is retiring

Robert Giles, the director of the New Jersey Division of Elections since 2008, is retiring.

Giles made his announcement on a conference call with election officials on Friday morning.   He will leave within the next few weeks.

Dr. Lauren Zyriek, the assistant Secretary of State, will become acting director as the state seeks a permanent replacement for Giles.   Zyriek is a former deputy county clerk in Bergen County.

Wade Hale, the deputy Burlington County Clerk, will become the deputy director of the state Division of Elections.  The post has been vacant for several years.

Giles worked for the Ocean County Board of Elections for more than thirteen years before assuming his state post.  He began his career as a voting machine technician and election investigator.

He served on the advisory board of the National Vote at Home Institute, a bi-partisan group of state election officials seeking to improve the vote by mail process.