These reforms could improve local elections, says NJ attorney general

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... After a miscalculation in the Ocean Township Board of Education election las fall, [2022] New Jersey lawmakers called for election reforms and a comprehensive look into what happened and, more important, what went wrong.
..... In reports released Wednesday [09/06/2023] by the state Attorney General's Office, former Attorney General Peter Harvey detailed not only his findings related to that incident but also recommendations to improve the state's election procedures as a whole.
..... Harvey and his firm, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, were hired in January [2023] by the problems in Monmouth county and provide recommendations for potential statewide election reforms.
..... The report focused on how to prevent miscounts and how to fix related issues quickly if they do happen.
..... Among the most obvious suggestions were for each county to test the vote counting software before the election starts and for each county to generate and review reports on how the voting system worked on Election Day before certifying the results.
..... Harvey also suggested that counties make sure representative from the voting equipment vendors have technical expertise on the software and hardware being used, expand poll worker training and come up with a plan for informing officials and the public about possible issues.
..... The report noted that comparing the total number of ballots case on Election Day with the total number of voter check-ins in poll-books is a way to ensure an accurate count as well.

A 'tension and a challenge'

..... Although this investigation was coordinated by the Office of the Attorney General, Harvey said, county boards of elections and superintendents of elections should look for other legal representation, such as county counsel, so that the Attorney's General's office can "further focus its efforts on enforcing New Jersey's civil rights laws."
..... The report said the attorney general's role in representing county boards of election and superintendents of elections presents a "tension and a challenge," because the office is also responsible for enforcing New Jersey's civil rights laws, and that at times can cerate a "structural challenge" to its "voting rights enforcement responsibilities."
..... Attorney General Matt Platkin called the report a "pubic service" and said his office is reviewing it "carefully as we work to ensure free and fair elections in New Jersey."

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