Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Republican Party filed a lawsuit in Superior Court demanding that the Burlington County Board of Elections release ballot drop box footage and voting machine audit logs the party says are being withheld in violation of state transparency laws.
The NJGOP said Burlington County’s refusal to comply with a lawful Open Public Records Act request raises serious questions about election transparency and public trust.
Chairman Glenn Paulsen accused the county of stalling and called for immediate compliance, saying voters “deserve transparency, not excuses.”
Key Points
- NJGOP sued Burlington County over alleged refusal to release ballot drop box footage and audit logs.
- The party says Bergen County complied with a similar request, while Burlington has not.
- State and federal lawmakers are being urged to support the NJGOP’s call for transparency.
NJGOP pressures officials to act
Party leaders urged U.S. Senator Andy Kim and State Senator Troy Singleton, both representing Burlington County, to back their calls for transparency. The GOP pointed out that both lawmakers have spoken publicly about restoring trust in elections and accountability in government. Paulsen said this case gives them a chance to “back those words with action.”
Kim has previously stated that government must work to regain public trust, but NJGOP officials argue that Burlington County’s current handling of election records contradicts that stance. They called on him to pressure local officials to comply with the law.
Transparency pledges under scrutiny
Senator Singleton, who has promoted transparency and accountability in his public service, was also singled out in the filing. The NJGOP cited his past comments emphasizing that increasing openness in government is essential to restoring faith in elected institutions.
Party leaders said they hope Singleton will act on those statements by urging the county to release the records voluntarily, avoiding further legal expenses and delays.
As the case moves forward, the NJGOP maintains that the dispute is not about partisanship but about access to public information. The party says its goal is to ensure consistency in how counties comply with records requests related to election oversight across New Jersey.
The letter
The New Jersey Republican Party (NJGOP) filed suit in Superior Court today, demanding that the Burlington County Board of Elections immediately release ballot drop box footage and voting machine seal audit logs that are being withheld in violation of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
Despite receiving the same lawful request as Bergen County, Burlington County has refused to comply. Bergen released the information promptly, as required by law. Burlington’s repeated delays and now refusal to comply undermine public trust and raise serious questions about transparency in elections.
“This is not complicated,” said Chairman Glenn Paulsen. “If Burlington County has nothing to hide, they should stop obstructing and hand over the tapes and logs. Voters deserve transparency, not excuses.”
The NJGOP is urging self-proclaimed Burlington County “transparency advocates” US Senator Andy Kim and State Senator Troy Singleton to stand with the NJGOP and the voters of Burlington County by demanding the immediate release of ballot drop box footage and voting machine audit logs. Both senators have spoken publicly about restoring trust in elections and increasing government accountability, and this is a critical opportunity for them to back those words with action.
“Andy Kim has said our government must regain public trust, yet right now, in his own county, election officials are hiding footage and records from public view,” Paulsen said. “We hope Senator Kim will join us in demanding Burlington County follow the law and release these materials.”
Just months ago, Senator Kim publicly stated, “In this time of such significant distrust in government, we should be working to increase transparency and accountability.” The NJGOP agrees and calls on him to ensure those principles are upheld in Burlington County.
Senator Troy Singleton has also made transparency a cornerstone of his public service, introducing legislation to safeguard elections and writing in the Burlington County Times:
“It’s utterly impossible to overemphasize the importance of trust, and consequently, transparency, in our political landscape. Increasing transparency in government is essential to instilling the trust and accountability of elected officials to our bosses, the residents of New Jersey.”
The NJGOP is calling on Senator Singleton to put those words into action by urging his loyal lieutenants in Burlington County to follow the law and release the records to avoid incurring taxpayer-funded defense counsel fees and plaintiffs’ fees that will be awarded if this litigation proceeds to judgment.
“These leaders have spoken powerfully about transparency and trust,” said Paulsen. “Now is their moment to act.”
