Vigilante Fights Voter Suppression In Gloucester County

Jacci Vigilante

Late in the day yesterday Gloucester County GOP Chairwoman Jacci Vigilante announced via -press release that she and the two Republican Commissioners at the Gloucester County Board of Elections (BOE) asked for “injunctive relief” in Gloucester County Superior Court.

Vigilante, in her release, said, there were several issues that forced the court filing, “First, the Board of Elections, without input or consultation of the Republican Commissioners, devised a plan for the placement of ballot drop box locations. Second, the proposed, unapproved plan was released to the Gloucester County Democrats who advertised the locations in a September 5 Facebook post. Third, the Board of Elections, without input or consultation of the Republican Commissioners, has proposed opening far fewer than 50% of its county-wide polling places in violation of Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order.”

Vigilante raises a valid point saying, “One has to wonder how the county Democrats could be aware of a plan that was never approved.”

While the chairwoman’s point is a good one, we think everyone knows how the county Democrats learned of the unapproved plan with no input from Republican Commissioners – a Democrat Superintendent of Elections, a Democrat County Clerk and two Democrat Commissioners decided on the plan themselves and figured they would just do what they want, just like every other Democrat operating in the land of the political machine that controls South Jersey.

If you doubt this unapproved plan with no input from Republican Commissioners for the placement of ballot drop boxes was designed to suppress the Republican vote then consider the fact the plan leaves Harrison and East Greenwich, both with populations of 10,000 or more, with no ballot drop box locations. Both townships have high concentrations of Republican voters. Meanwhile the plan calls for five drop boxes within ten miles of each other in the northern part of the county and another five within ten miles of each other along the 322 corridor, all in towns with higher concentrations of Democratic voters.

Not only is the plan for ballot drop boxes flawed, or tilted to favor Democrats, there’s also the fact the plan doesn’t come close to opening 50% of its county-wide polling places. It’s obvious they didn’t even try.

Vigilante says at the end of her release, “Voter suppression will never be tolerated and I am happy to go to court and fight against it.”

Any objective view of the unapproved election plan released by half of the commissioner at the Gloucester County BOE can see that Vigilante is correct in calling the plan voter suppression. We agree, voter suppression should not be tolerated.

Vigilante’s press release on the issue follows:

GCGOP Chairwoman Vigilante Heads To Court To Stop County Democrats Scheme To Disenfranchise Republican Voters

Board of Elections releases ballot drop box locations and polling places without meeting with Republican commissioners

MULLICA HILL – Gloucester County Republican Chairwoman Jacci Vigilante and Gloucester County Board of Elections (BOE) Commissioners Carmen DiNovi and Dave Ferrucci asked for “injunctive relief” in Gloucester County Superior Court today.

Several issues pertaining to the upcoming general election have come to light that forced Chairwoman Vigilante and Republican BOE Commissioners DiNovi and Ferrucci to file with the court. First, the Board of Elections, without input or consultation of the Republican Commissioners, devised a plan for the placement of ballot drop box locations. Second, the proposed, unapproved plan was released to the Gloucester County Democrats who advertised the locations in a September 5 Facebook post. Third, the Board of Elections, without input or consultation of the Republican Commissioners, has proposed opening far fewer than 50% of its county-wide polling places in violation of Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order.

“Both, the law and Governor Murphy’s executive order 177, are clear, you cannot place, open, publish or utilize any ballot drop box or polling location which has not been approved by the Board of Elections.” Jacci Vigilante said, “No plan can be approved by the Board without input from all four Commissioners and the Republican Commissioners were left out of the process.”

Vigilante continued, “Somehow the Gloucester County Democratic Committee became aware of the ballot drop box location plan and posted that plan on social media on September 5 at 8:58AM. One has to wonder how the county Democrats could be aware of a plan that was never approved.”

“The plan released for ballot drop box locations concentrates five drop boxes within ten miles of each other in the northern part of the county and another five within ten miles of each other along the 322 corridor, all in towns with higher concentrations of Democratic voters.” Vigilante added, “The plan leaves Harrison and East Greenwich, both with populations of 10,000 or more, with no ballot drop box locations. These towns also happen to have heavy concentrations of Republican voters.”

“It’s obvious the Superintendent of Elections along with the two Democrat Commissioners on the Board of Elections devised a scheme to suppress Republican votes. Even worse, they hid that plan from Republican Commissioners, leaked it to the Democratic party and then tried to ram it through.” Vigilante said, “Voter suppression will never be tolerated and I am happy to go to court and fight against it.”