Breaking: NJ Secretary of State Wells Responds Re: Dem Ballot Request
Posted on 30 October 2009
Yesterday we commented on a story that appeared at the Corner on National Review regarding a letter sent from the Democratic State Committee attorney Paul Josephson to New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Wells. The content of the letter was allegedly a request to change state policy on absentee voting when signatures on the application do not match the signature of the voter on file. This is a tactic similar to other actions taken in the past by Democratic operatives in Washington State and Minnesota which led to significant questions of voter fraud.
We have made the attempt since yesterday to get a copy of the letter in question to determine exactly what was suggested to the Secretary of State. However, after contacting the Secretary of States office, we did get the following prompt response:
It has come to my attention that voters may be concerned with the process in use by county clerks to authenticate vote-by-mail applications. Please be assured that the Division of Elections, county election officials and I share the commitment to fully protect the right to vote and the integrity of the electoral process.
The Election Laws of New Jersey require county clerks to ensure that each applicant is a registered, qualified voter and is identified as such. The current signature verification system was the practice for many years with absentee ballot applications, and remains the practice today with vote-by-mail applications.
I have issued no recommendation to change the legal mandate for county clerks to authenticate the identity of every vote-by-mail applicant.
Furthermore, voters whose vote-by-mail applications have been rejected have the option to reapply in person at their county clerkâs office by 3 pm on Monday, November 2, or they may vote at their polling place on Tuesday.
We are committed to working with our election officials to protect the rights of voters and ensure that every vote is counted as required by law.
Nina Mitchell Wells
New Jersey Secretary of State
Kudos to Secretary Wells. If you are one of the people who have had their absentee ballot questioned, you still have time to either visit your county clerk or vote on Tuesday.
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