Officials Say Bomb Threats Temporarily Closed NJ Polling Sites on Election Day

Multiple threats were made against polling sites across New Jersey on Election Day on Tuesday, state officials said, prompting multiple polling areas to be temporarily closed.

In a social media post on Tuesday, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way said law enforcement “determined that there are no credible threats at this time,” confirming the bomb threats.

“We are doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers and encourage every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote,” Way added.

Way then called on voters across New Jersey to “exercise their right to vote” before 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Other details about the incident were not provided by Way. Still, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said on Tuesday that bomb threats were emailed to polling areas in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic counties.

“Law enforcement officers have responded at each affected polling place, and they have worked swiftly to secure these polling locations and ensure the safety of every voter,” his statement reads. “Some of these polling locations have already reopened to the public. At others, voters will be directed to a nearby polling location to cast their ballot.”

Later in his statement, Platkin urged residents to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity on Election Day.

Following the incident, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba wrote on X that her office is also monitoring the situation in her state, responding to a post from Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon. Dhillon included a video of police in Paterson, New Jersey, responding to an alleged bomb threat.

The threats on Tuesday came as voters cast ballots in the closely watched race for New Jersey’s governor, which pits Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Polls have shown that the two candidates have been neck-and-neck in recent days.

Ciattarelli, a former state legislator endorsed by President Donald Trump, is trying to become New Jersey’s first Republican governor since 2018. He faces Sherrill, a Democrat in her fourth term in Congress. Also on the ballot are all 80 seats in the state Assembly, which Democrats control 52–28.

With a close race possible, the Department of Justice announced last month that it would monitor polling sites in Passaic County, a former Democratic stronghold that Trump won in 2024. In addition to New Jersey, the Justice Department said it would monitor several counties across California, including Los Angeles County.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.