State Dems accuse GOP of ‘fear-mongering’ after election-integrity announcement

Democratic officials on Tuesday condemned state Republicans for “fear-mongering” after a GOP task force alleged that hundreds of non-citizens are on New Jersey’s voter rolls. 

The Republican Party’s election-integrity task force issued a press release Monday alleging that Motor Vehicle Commission registration flaws incorrectly placed “hundreds” of non-citizens, but didn’t offer a specific number. The GOP accused dozens of these non-citizens of participating in elections.

Alicia D’Alessandro, a spokesperson for the Division of Elections, told the New Jersey Globe that all allegations of voter fraud are investigated and that the Division of Elections had not heard from the state GOP about confirming any given registered voter’s status.

On Tuesday, state Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones Jr. said concerns about widespread voting fraud are unfounded. He also attacked state GOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon, also the Monmouth County clerk, pointing to two people charged with illegally voting in Monmouth County.

“It only took a decade and the election of a new state Republican chair, but the New Jersey Republican Party has finally fully embraced Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans’ fabled ‘flood the zone with nonsense’ approach to politics,” Jones said.

Monmouth County Democratic Chair Dyese Davis accused Republicans of spreading misinformation and purposely degrading public trust in elections.

“This is yet another example of fear mongering from the GOP,” Davis said. “Instead of pushing conspiracy-driven rhetoric designed to undermine confidence in our elections, we should be focused on educating voters, increasing civic engagement, and making sure our local election systems are functioning effectively right here in our own communities.”

Hanlon dismissed the criticism, arguing Democrats are dismissing serious evidence of a problem.

“Let me be clear: This is not fear-mongering,” Hanlon said. “This is shining a light on a problem that has rightfully concerned voters after New Jerseyans for years have been told such breaches could not happen. Clearly, there is a problem that needs to be addressed.”

This article was updated at 11:49 a.m. to include comment from Hanlon.