Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced measures the Department of Law and Public Safety (LPS) will be taking during the 2025 general election to help ensure a fair and smooth-running election, to protect the right to vote, and to assist voters, election officials, and law enforcement in resolving any voting-related legal matters.
Saturday, October 25, 2025 marks the start of early in-person voting. Divisions within LPS will play key roles in ensuring free and fair elections in the State of New Jersey.
Since 2022, the Voter Protection Initiative has worked with community stakeholders and partners to identify and address issues affecting voting access. The Voter Protection Initiative focuses on remedying any voting rights or civil rights violations that may arise during early voting and on Election Day, including under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
“The success of our democracy depends on elections that remain free and fair,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Once again, we are prepared to ensure that all eligible New Jerseyans are able to cast their ballots without harassment, discrimination, or intimidation. Those seeking to disrupt the voting process will be held accountable.”
The LPS Voting Rights Resources webpage provides New Jersey residents with answers to frequently asked questions regarding the right to vote. The webpage explains how voters can report any problems they encounter during early voting or on Election Day.
The Division of Law provides a team of dedicated attorneys to provide around-the-clock legal advice to county elections officials during the period of early voting and on Election Day in an effort to ensure free, fair, and secure elections and access to voting for all eligible individuals, in accordance with New Jersey’s election laws.
LPS’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability will monitor claims of voter intimidation, improper electioneering, election fraud, and other criminal violations, and will direct reports of election interference to law enforcement as needed. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell will be monitoring for election security threats – both cyber and physical.
Additionally, Attorney General Platkin recently issued an updated Attorney General’s Guidance on the Role of Law Enforcement in Election Activities to local law enforcement officials and County Prosecutors across the state. The Guidance ensures that law enforcement officers are fully informed about the role of law enforcement in elections and laws protecting voters from intimidation and coercion as they exercise their right to vote.
Among other things, the guidance highlights that it is a criminal offense to solicit voters or electioneer within a “protective zone” around polling locations. Previously, the “protective zone” extended 100 feet from the outside entrance of any polling site. Under a new law enacted in 2025, county boards of elections are permitted to extend the “protective zone” to up to 200 feet around polling sites. The law requires county boards to provide “clear and conspicuous” notice of the size of the protective zone. Responsibility for preserving the peace and maintaining good order in polling places and voting locations lies principally with poll workers and local election officials. In the rare instances where it is necessary to remove someone who is violating the prohibition on electioneering or other election laws, these elections officials may call upon law enforcement officers for assistance, as explained in the Attorney General’s Guidance.
As part of the Voter Protection Initiative, LPS’s Division on Civil Rights (DCR) will have a team available throughout all polling hours during early voting and on Election Day to take reports from any member of the public who has been subject to discrimination or harassment in connection with voting. Members of the public can provide tips or report issues without filing a formal DCR complaint. During early voting and on Election Day, voters should report any potential discrimination or harassment or related tip to DCR by phone at 1-833-NJDCR4U (1-833-653-2748). Voters may also file a formal complaint with DCR through the NJ BIAS online portal, at https://bias.njcivilrights.gov. Depending on their urgency, complaints regarding possible discrimination or harassment filed with DCR may be addressed during the election or after the election.
Outside of LPS, the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Elections website provides a list of county-level election office contacts, as well as other useful elections-related information. Members of the public can direct election-related questions to their County Superintendent of Elections and County Board of Elections.
Any person who believes his or her right to vote has been interfered with, or who wishes to report other voting-related problems or concerns, can also call the State’s Voter Information and Assistance line toll-free at 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837).