Public speakers press Hudson County officials over low turnout and early-voting problems

Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press Hudson County officials on election administration, focusing on low turnout and problems during early voting.

Raymond Mitchell said he ran as a write-in candidate for governor during early voting and described difficulties obtaining information about how many write-in votes he received. He said he had trouble contacting election staff and that he had filed an investigation request and made a police report about an interaction with an elections official. Mitchell questioned the security and process around voting machines and technician access at a county warehouse and said he wanted a list of the write-ins filed in Hudson County.

Courtney Walker, a Jersey City resident, thanked the commissioners for passing a resolution supporting the Immigrant Trust Act but said Hudson County continues to rank last in the state for voter turnout. Walker urged the county to “stop repeating the same processes” and sought a firm, measurable commitment to improvements in election processes. She cited late delivery of sample ballots, insufficient outreach about new early-voting centers and ongoing mail errors as specific problems. "We need systematic change," Walker said.

Commissioners and staff asked clarifying questions on the record, including whether the timeline for sample-ballot mailings and early-voting start dates had been coordinated with recent state law changes expanding early voting. County staff said they would follow up on the specific timeline and provide answers.

Next steps: County staff said they would provide information requested by speakers, including a list of write-ins in Hudson County and answers about sample-ballot timing and coordination with early-voting dates.