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Trenton attorney general vows to protect New Jersey voters ahead of elections
Trenton attorney general vows to protect New Jersey voters ahead of elections
Trenton, NJ – The Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced measures to ensure a fair election during the upcoming general election. The Department of Law and Public Safety aims to protect the right to vote and assist voters and election officials.
Early in-person voting will begin on Saturday, October 25. Divisions within the Department of Law and Public Safety will focus on maintaining free and fair elections in New Jersey.
Since 2022, the Voter Protection Initiative has addressed issues impacting voting access. The initiative seeks to remedy voting rights violations on Election Day and during early voting, according to New Jersey civil rights laws.
“The success of our democracy depends on elections that remain free and fair,” Platkin stated. He also emphasized the plan to ensure that New Jerseyans can vote without harassment or intimidation.
The Department of Law and Public Safety’s Voting Rights Resources webpage will assist residents with questions about their voting rights. This resource will also guide voters on reporting issues encountered during early voting and on Election Day.
Dedicated attorneys in the Division of Law will provide legal support to county election officials throughout early voting and on Election Day. Their role is to uphold election integrity in accordance with New Jersey’s election laws.
The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability will monitor allegations of voter intimidation, election fraud, and other violations. They will coordinate with law enforcement as necessary.
Updated Attorney General Guidance on the role of law enforcement in election activities has been issued to law enforcement officials statewide. This guidance clarifies laws protecting voters from harassment.
The guidance highlights that soliciting voters or electioneering within a designated “protective zone” around polling locations is a criminal offense. Under a new 2025 law, the protective zone around polling sites can extend up to 200 feet.
The Division on Civil Rights will have a team available to assist voters who experience discrimination or harassment during the elections. Voters can report issues via phone or through the online portal.
The New Jersey Division of Elections offers a list of county election office contacts and additional election-related information for the public. Voters can call the State’s Voter Information and Assistance line with any concerns about their voting rights.
Attorney General Platkin and Labor Commissioner sue Amazon over worker misclassification
Attorney General Platkin and Labor Commissioner sue Amazon over worker misclassification
Trenton, NJ – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo have filed a lawsuit against Amazon and its delivery network. The state charges that Amazon has misclassified Flex delivery drivers as independent contractors, violating state labor laws.
The lawsuit alleges that Amazon deprives Flex drivers of wages, benefits, and legal protections designated for employees. As a result of these alleged violations, New Jersey Flex drivers and related funds have suffered significant financial losses.
Flex drivers utilize their own vehicles for deliveries while covering their own operational costs. Amazon has branded the Flex program as a means for individuals to have a flexible income opportunity, yet it maintains strict control over delivery processes.
The lawsuit claims that by misclassifying Flex drivers, Amazon avoids providing rights such as minimum wage and mandated sick leave. Platkin stated, “Amazon is taking advantage of Flex drivers.”
Commissioner Asaro-Angelo emphasized that misclassifying workers is illegal. “Flex drivers deserve proper classification,” he noted.
Many Flex drivers have been operating in New Jersey since 2017. An investigation into Amazon’s practices commenced when some Flex drivers sought unemployment and disability benefits, indicating Amazon’s lack of contributions to state funds.
The complaint, filed in Essex County’s Superior Court, outlines how Amazon’s business model harms Flex drivers. It highlights instances where drivers have worked over 40 hours without receiving earned overtime and where injuries have left them without essential sick leave.
New Jersey law presumes workers to be employees unless specific conditions are met. Amazon allegedly fails to meet these criteria, as drivers undergo training, do not manage independent businesses, and must adhere to Amazon’s operational guidelines.
The lawsuit details violations including wage withholding and failure to maintain accurate records. It seeks to stop unlawful practices, recover unpaid wages, and enforce penalties.
The state has prioritized addressing worker misclassification, previously settling cases against companies like Lyft and Uber. Since new legislation aimed at curbing such practices was enacted, New Jersey has collected significant penalties from misclassified workers.
Misclassification costs New Jersey taxpayers millions in lost contributions to state funds. With this lawsuit, the state aims to enforce labor laws and protect Flex drivers from exploitation.
Nearly Three Dozen Now Lawsuits and Counting: Attorney General Platkin Sues Trump Over Cuts to Solar Programs
Attorney General Platkin files lawsuit against EPA over termination of solar program for low-income households
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside 22 other plaintiffs, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. This legal action concerns the illegal termination of a $7 billion program designed to provide solar energy to more than 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country.
“The Trump Administration’s anti-environmental agenda is not only extreme and harmful, but also completely lawless,” said Attorney General Platkin. He added that the “President and his appointees cannot simply eliminate Congressionally-authorized programs on a whim.”
The Solar for All program was established by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. It directed the EPA to grant competitive funds for deploying solar projects in underprivileged areas. By August 2024, the program’s funding had been fully awarded, with New Jersey and the other plaintiffs proceeding with project planning and stakeholder engagement.
However, in August, the EPA suddenly terminated the program and retracted the majority of the funds that had already been allocated. This decision left the plaintiff states without necessary resources to advance their solar initiatives despite their previous planning and commitments of state funds.
When taking office in January, President Trump focused on fossil fuel extraction while disregarding solar energy. In July, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” rescinding some funds for the Solar for All program. Although the EPA had previously allocated all project funding, it instead chose to terminate the program unlawfully on August 7.
Platkin and a coalition of states are pursuing legal recourse in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. They allege that the EPA’s actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s Separation of Powers Doctrine. Simultaneously, New Jersey and additional grant recipients have initiated a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The complaint in the Federal Claims Court cites a breach of the agreements stemming from the funding cancelation. The plaintiffs seek monetary damages, interest, and fees.
Attorney General Platkin’s action represents a significant effort to uphold legal agreements aimed at providing affordable solar energy in New Jersey and other states impacted by the EPA’s termination of the program.
In a major pushback against federal actions, this lawsuit underscores the ongoing battle for access to clean energy for low-income households.
