MONMOUTH COUNTY – Former Attorney General and federal prosecutor Peter C. Harvey will be investigating the administration of the November 2022 General Election in Monmouth County due to alleged voting machine irregularities, officials said.
“Protecting New Jerseyans’ right to vote in a free and fair election is paramount to our democracy, and ensuring the integrity of that process is essential,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. “Based on public reports regarding the 2022 General Election in Monmouth County, a full investigation is warranted to encourage and preserve public trust in our elections, including recommendations for reforms to benefit the conduct of contests statewide.”
“Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and our elections must always be free and fair,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “It is critical that our elections comply with all applicable civil rights laws. Voters in New Jersey deserve no less. I am grateful for Attorney General Platkin’s continued leadership in protecting the right to vote.”
Investigation was probed after reports of alleged incidents of voting machine irregularities in the 2022 General Election in Monmouth County. The investigation will determine whether anyone or anything has engaged in any practice deemed unlawful under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.
Based on the outcome, the firm will propose public recommendations for reform for future elections in the state.
Investigation will be overseen by Harvey, who served as Attorney General from 2003 to 2006. As Attorney General, he “managed compliance for the New Jersey State Police against the U.S. Department of Justice’s consent decree, implemented a first-of-its-kind racial profile training for law enforcement officers in New Jersey, and chaired the state’s Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force.”
Harvey previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where he prosecuted cases involving financial fraud and organized crime.
The Voter Protection Initiative was established by Attorney General Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights prior to the 2022 General Election in order to enable a fair, free, and smooth-running election, and to protect the right to vote. This initiative focused on identifying and addressing any interference with voting or civil rights that arose during early voting and on Election Day.
