Gottheimer announces bipartisan election security measures ahead of early voting in New Jersey
FORT LEE, N.J. (Bergen County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced new bipartisan legislation Friday aimed at strengthening protections for election workers, ballot drop boxes and the peaceful transfer of power as New Jersey prepares to begin early voting for the Nov. 3 general election.
Gottheimer, D-5th District, outlined the proposals during an Oct. 23 announcement in Fort Lee, where he introduced two bills and discussed a bipartisan congressional letter addressing the certification of election results and the seating of newly elected members of Congress.
“The most sacred right our Constitution affords us is the right to vote. Early voting starts in New Jersey tomorrow. We cannot allow anyone or anything — at home or from abroad — to interfere with our elections. I’m announcing new federal actions to protect our poll workers, our ballot boxes, and our elections,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).
The first proposal, the bipartisan Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act, is being introduced with U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. According to Gottheimer’s office, the legislation would expand federal protections for election volunteers, individuals responsible for supplying and maintaining election equipment, and family members of election officials.
The second proposal, the Ballot Box Protection Act, is being introduced with U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. The legislation would explicitly make damaging or destroying a ballot drop box a federal crime, providing prosecutors with a clearer legal basis to pursue cases in federal court.
“Protecting the integrity of our elections is essential to maintaining the public’s trust in our democratic process. Every American deserves to know that their vote will be counted and protected from interference. Those who intentionally destroy ballots or damage ballot boxes must be held accountable. I’m proud to once again join Congressman Gottheimer in introducing this bipartisan legislation to safeguard our elections and ensure every lawful vote is counted,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
Gottheimer and Bacon are also leading a bipartisan letter addressing the peaceful transition of power following elections. According to Gottheimer’s office, 17 Republican and Democratic lawmakers have signed the letter so far.
The lawmakers pledge to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. House, defend the state election certification process and recognize winners certified by each state under its laws. They also support adding every state’s certified winners to the House clerk’s roll on the first day of the new Congress and oppose attempts to refuse or delay seating a member-elect.
Beyond the legislation and congressional letter, Gottheimer outlined several voting policies he supports, including expanding early voting opportunities, extending voting periods, voting by mail and secure mobile voting. He also supports providing multilingual voting information at polling locations and increasing federal Help America Vote Act funding for New Jersey to help counties obtain adequate polling locations and voting machines.
Gottheimer said he opposes additional barriers to voter registration, including requirements to provide a passport. He also warned about potential foreign interference in American elections through artificial intelligence and social media, identifying Russia, China, North Korea and Iran as countries of concern.
The announcement comes amid concerns about threats and harassment directed at election officials. According to a Brennan Center for Justice survey cited by Gottheimer’s office, 38% of local election officials reported experiencing threats, harassment or abuse related to their work, while approximately one in six reported receiving threats of violence.
Gottheimer’s office also cited figures showing that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force reviewed more than 2,000 reports of threats and had charged 20 people by fall 2024.
The congressman pointed to incidents involving election security, including fires set at ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state in 2024 that damaged ballots.
He also referenced bomb threats reported at New Jersey polling locations last November, which temporarily disrupted voting in Paterson, Ewing and Bergen County. Additional threats were reported in Ocean, Monmouth, Essex and Middlesex counties. Voters were redirected, authorities later determined there was no credible threat, and a juvenile was arrested.
Gottheimer, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission Review Task Force, was inside the House chamber during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In 2022, he worked with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus on legislation that became the Electoral Count Reform Act, which changed federal procedures governing the counting of electoral votes.
Joining Gottheimer at Friday’s announcement were state Sen. Gordon Johnson, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Clerk John Hogan, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, Councilwoman Ila Kasofsky and Councilmen Peter J. Suh and Harvey Sohmer.
Early in-person voting in New Jersey begins Saturday, Oct. 24, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
