Governor says federal involvement threatens state control of elections and voter access

Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is pushing back against former President Donald Trump over mail-in voting, saying the federal government has no authority to control how the state administers its elections. The statement comes amid renewed national debate over voting access and election oversight.

Sherrill emphasized that election administration is a state responsibility, citing longstanding practices in New Jersey. “The Constitution is clear: states run elections, not the federal government. New Jersey has administered safe, secure, and accessible voting for generations,” she said in a public statement.

The governor defended the state’s vote-by-mail system, noting its widespread use across political affiliations. “Our vote-by-mail system works. Millions of New Jerseyans — Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters alike — rely on it,” Sherrill said. “The president himself has cast ballots by mail.”

It wasn’t always that way. When campaigning in Congress against Trump, Sherrill said, “New Jersey has the least safe elections in the country.”

https:// /wakeupnj/status/2039430550486708548

Governor criticizes federal role in election changes

Key Points

Gov. Mikie Sherrill says New Jersey controls its own election system
Defends mail-in voting as secure and widely used across parties
Criticizes Trump, saying proposed actions could restrict voter access

Sherrill argued that recent efforts tied to Trump would not improve election integrity and could instead create barriers for voters. “This order does nothing to strengthen election integrity and is designed to make it harder for eligible citizens to vote,” she said.

She also criticized Trump more broadly, linking the issue to wider policy concerns. “Like everything Donald Trump gets involved in – from jobs to healthcare, to gas prices, a war with no plan, or even running our airports – he creates chaos and makes life harder for New Jerseyans,” Sherrill said.

Vows legal action to protect voting rights

The governor pledged to take action if necessary to protect access to voting in the state. “Let’s be clear: any problem with mail in ballots would be caused by Trump himself,” she said. “I will take every action available to protect New Jerseyans fundamental voting rights.”

No specific federal policy changes were detailed in the statement, and it remains unclear what actions could prompt legal challenges from the state.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.