With just one week remaining before the November general election, Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo has issued a call for reform of New Jersey’s messenger ballot system, citing ongoing concerns over election integrity and recent reports of fraudulent activity targeting vulnerable homeless populations across the county and perhaps the state.
“I’m tired of the misuse and abuse of messenger ballots that threaten the integrity of our election process,” Giralo said Tuesday afternoon. He noted that Atlantic County has a long and troubling history of election corruption involving messenger ballots, adding, “Atlantic County has an unfortunate history of election corruption involving messenger ballots which should not be tolerated.”
The renewed scrutiny comes months after former Atlantic City councilman and political operative Craig Callaway pleaded guilty in February to federal charges of depriving and defrauding New Jersey residents of a fair election process.
Prosecutors accused Callaway of recruiting others in 2022 to submit fraudulent mail-in ballot applications in Atlantic County, allegedly offering payments of $30 to $50 per application. Now, the county clerk has raised the alarm on that practice being used to exploit the local homeless population.
Under current New Jersey law, voters who have not opted for mail-in voting or cannot appear at polling places are allowed to designate a “messenger” to collect their ballot from the county clerk’s office and deliver it to them. The system is designed to provide flexibility and accessibility for voters who face barriers to in-person participation.
However, Giralo warned that the system has been increasingly exploited. He said several individuals experiencing homelessness in Atlantic City and Pleasantville have recently reported being approached and propositioned to cast fraudulent messenger ballots.
Law enforcement agencies in Atlantic County have been alerted to the allegations and are investigating the claims as the election approaches.
Giralo’s statement underscores growing concerns statewide over ballot integrity, particularly as early and mail-in voting expand. He has called for stronger oversight and stricter penalties to prevent abuses of the messenger ballot system, emphasizing that maintaining voter trust is paramount to the health of New Jersey’s democratic process.