Burlington County releases report detailing failures on 2024 Election Day.

In a recent interim report released on Thursday, a legal firm from North Jersey, Connell Foley LLP, highlighted significant issues related to the management of the 2024 election in Burlington County, New Jersey. The report has raised concerns about long wait times and operational delays which were deemed “unacceptable” during the last November election.

The findings suggest that a lack of cohesion among staff at county election offices contributed to the chaotic environment. Observations noted included a culture marked by “territorialism, partisan tension, and personality conflicts” among election officials. Poll workers exhibited resistance to the delivery of a new voting machine that could have alleviated delays, and instances were reported of poorly trained workers struggling to navigate the voting process. The report characterized these challenges as indicative of a system in disarray, highlighting failures in communication and collaboration essential for an effective election process.

The release of this preliminary report is strategic, providing election officials with a chance to address identified shortcomings ahead of the upcoming primary election scheduled for June 10. It outlines several recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence of the issues experienced during the 2024 election, which affected the county’s ability to efficiently manage its 40 municipalities and resulted in reduced voter turnout. Notably, only 62% of registered voters participated in November, a drop from 72% observed in the 2016 election and below the state average of 65%.

The report also addresses operational shortcomings, including the decision to open just seven polling locations for early voting, insufficient voting machines to accommodate a high number of voters, and facilities that were deemed inaccessible for elderly and disabled individuals. These factors culminated in chaotic Election Day scenarios, with voters enduring wait times that sometimes extended beyond six hours.

To remedy these difficulties, the report proposes enhancements such as increasing the number of trained poll workers familiar with new technology, rebalancing election districts to limit voter registration to a maximum of 750 per district, and expanding early voting locations and hours. The county has begun implementing some recommended changes, including purchasing additional voting machines and initiating discussions to redraw election district boundaries to comply with established standards.

County officials assert their commitment to provide a secure, efficient, and transparent voting experience for all constituents. The trajectory towards improvement aims to restore confidence in the electoral process, underscoring the importance of effective administration in the years to come.