Background of the Original Lawsuit
Mark Demo, co-founder of Citizens for NJ Election Integrity, initially filed a lawsuit against Cherry Hill Township and its Records Custodian, Patti Chacker, alleging violations of the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The lawsuit emerged from the township's refusal to provide access to surveillance video footage from ballot drop boxes used during the 2024 General Election.
Legal Victory Leads to Broader Investigation
Demo successfully sued Cherry Hill Township, winning his case when Judge Sherri L. Schweitzer ordered the township to release the requested surveillance video footage. Judge Schweitzer ruled that municipalities cannot deny OPRA requests based on security concerns if they were previously aware of these requirements upon placing ballot drop boxes.
This legal victory led Citizens for NJ Election Integrity (C4NJEI) to expand their investigation, requesting ballot drop box video footage from the first 10 days of the recent June primary election at seven high-usage locations across New Jersey. These included Camden County(Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Pennsauken), Burlington County(Mt. Laurel, Evesham), and Gloucester County (Washington Township, Monroe Township).
Findings and Public Concerns
The intent of the group’s expanded investigation was to reconcile the number of individuals depositing ballots into drop boxes with the records maintained by county drop box logs and those reported to the state. While New Jersey permits individuals (bearers) to deposit multiple ballots, the group aimed to uncover potential discrepancies or irregularities.
Five municipalities (Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Mt. Laurel, Washington Township, and Monroe Township) denied OPRA requests for drop box video, citing security concerns because the drop boxes were located outside police stations or other municipal buildings. However, Pennsauken and Evesham provided the requested footage. Additionally, C4NJEI discovered that many municipalities delete drop box video footage after 30 days, which in some cases means the footage is being erased even before election day.
Implications of Denials, Deletions, and Transparency Issues
Demo’s lawsuit revealed significant transparency issues, including premature deletion of election-related video records. Recent guidance published in May of 2025 by the State of New Jersey indicate that drop box video should be maintained at a minimum for as long as a candidate for office can challenge election results, which in NJ is 32 days after election day.
Next Steps andCall for Greater Public Awareness
The findings, including the pattern of denials and premature video deletions, raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability in New Jersey’s election procedures. C4NJEI’s efforts underline the need for greater public vigilance and awareness regarding ballot security and election integrity. Moving forward, C4NJEI's continued investigations could prompt legislative or procedural changes aimed at strengthening public access and oversight of ballot collection practices in New Jersey.
