Judge allows polls in parts of NJ to stay open late following bomb threats
Some polling sites in NYC also fielded what officials called "swatting" threats.
A judge allowed polls in parts of Passaic County, New Jersey, to remain open late Tuesday after unfounded bomb threats earlier in the day halted voting at locations across the northern part of the state.
The judge ruled that voters would be able to cast their ballots until 9 p.m. ET at three schools in the Paterson area of Passaic County, which has been a swing county in recent cycles, after the county Democratic Party filed a lawsuit seeking the extension, according to the Associated Press.
"This is an unusual, extraordinary relief of opening by one more hour," a state judge said at an emergency hearing late Tuesday. "Given the hour, I think it is the fair thing to do."
Multiple polling places in Northern New Jersey temporarily closed Tuesday morning after precincts received emailed bomb threats later deemed to be not credible, prompting election officials to direct some voters to other polling places.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement on X Tuesday morning that while "polling locations have already reopened" in some precincts, "at others, voters will be directed to a nearby polling location to cast their ballot."
Polls also remained open until 10 p.m. ET in Chester Country, Pennsylvania, a Democratic-leaning hub just west of Philadelphia, after an error earlier in the day left some unaffiliated voters unable to cast ballots, county election officials said.
Authorities in New Jersey made an arrest Tuesday in connection with bomb threats directed at a school polling location in North Brunswick on Tuesday morning, but it was not immediately clear whether the subject of the arrest -- a juvenile -- was also responsible for threats made against other locations.
Police launched an investigation early Tuesday after they "began receiving several reports of a bomb threat at Livingston Park Elementary School via text message," according to a statement from the county prosecutor.
The threat was quickly deemed to be a hoax. Investigators soon identified the subject, took the juvenile into custody, and recovered "the electronic devices used in the threat," authorities said.
Some polling sites in New York City also fielded what officials characterized as hoax "swatting" threats on Tuesday morning, sources told ABC News, but no polling locations were shut down.
Sources said three email threats were received by election workers at polling sites in Greenwich Village, Midtown, and Harlem early Tuesday as sites opened. The threats appeared similar to those sent to locations in New Jersey, but it was not clear whether they were connected.
The New York Police Department was investigating.
During the 2024 election, bomb threats called into polling stations in key swing states prompted widespread delays in voting. The FBI later said the threats likely originated from Russia.
The emails received Tuesday by the voting precincts in New Jersey contained "fake claims of bomb threats," Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda told New York ABC station WABC.
"We are doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers and coordinate closely with state, local and federal partners to ensure a smooth and safe election," Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, New Jersey's top election official, said.
The threatening emails went to polling locations in New Jersey's Bergen County, Essex County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, and Passaic County, officials said.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill said the threats wouldn't deter voters.
"I know New Jerseyans, so I know everyone is taking this really seriously and will get out to vote," Sherrill said. "Obviously this is an attempt to suppress the vote here. I don't think New Jerseyans take very kindly to that kind of tampering in our election system."
Elsewhere, the election commissioner in Virginia said that a church that had been scheduled to serve as a polling location in Newport News was closed after a vehicle ran through the building on Saturday. The city condemned the building and officials made an emergency polling place change.
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals, addressing that state's readiness, said that Virginia officials "know the types of issues voters can face on Election Day and are very familiar with how to help them."
"We have processes that are based on state and federal law, and we use these tested processes to ensure that every eligible voter can vote in Virginia," Beals said. "We want everyone to vote with confidence and ask that you be sure to thank an election official when you go to vote today."
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