Sudden Bomb Threats Force Closures at Polling Stations in Seven Key New Jersey Counties as Gubernatorial Race Hangs in the Balance
It was supposed to be an ordinary Election Day in New Jersey — but by midmorning, the state found itself in chaos. Officials confirmed that multiple polling stations across at least seven counties were forced to close after receiving bomb threats, halting voting in several Republican-leaning areas just as the gubernatorial race between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli reached a razor-thin margin. What began as isolated reports of suspicious emails quickly turned into a statewide emergency response.
Authorities said threats were reported in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic Counties. These are some of New Jersey’s most politically diverse regions, home to both dense Democratic cities and sprawling Republican suburbs — a mix that could determine the outcome of the election. Police units swept the affected locations, moving voters and poll workers to temporary sites while bomb squads cleared the buildings. For hours, several precincts were shut down completely. By afternoon, the majority had reopened, but the disruption had already made an impact.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin confirmed that while none of the threats appeared credible, the state was treating every warning seriously. “Our top priority is the safety of voters and election staff,” Platkin said during an early press briefing. “Every site will be fully cleared and secure before reopening.” He urged the public not to panic and to continue voting as scheduled, but tension rippled through polling lines statewide.
The timing of the threats raised alarm. New Jersey’s gubernatorial race has been one of the tightest in recent history, with polls showing Sherrill and Ciattarelli separated by barely one percentage point. Turnout projections were already high, and both campaigns had mobilized thousands of volunteers to get out the vote. The sudden closures and relocations added confusion in an election that could come down to a few thousand ballots. Some officials noted that the targeted counties included areas that have swung Republican in recent cycles, a detail not lost on observers or candidates.
Ciattarelli’s campaign called for a full federal investigation, calling the threats “an attack on democracy itself.” His communications director said in a statement that voters in GOP-strong counties were disproportionately affected and that the campaign was monitoring how the closures might suppress turnout. Sherrill’s team echoed the concern but urged calm, saying, “No one should allow fear to silence their voice. Every vote must be cast and counted.”
Local law enforcement worked with the FBI’s Newark field office to track the origin of the emails and digital messages behind the threats. Investigators believe the pattern mirrors a series of similar Election Day disruptions in 2024, when anonymous messages claiming explosives had been planted at polling stations forced temporary closures in multiple states. Federal officials later linked those threats to a foreign misinformation network attempting to undermine voter confidence. While it remains unclear whether this year’s incidents are related, officials are treating the situation as part of a broader national concern.
The scene outside several polling sites was tense. In Monmouth County, parents arriving to vote at an elementary school were redirected to a nearby community center as officers in bomb-squad gear cordoned off the property. In Passaic, a voter described a line stretching down the block after authorities reopened the site, with residents determined not to be turned away. “They told us to come back in an hour, so we did,” said one voter. “Nobody here’s giving up their vote.”
As the hours passed, the story drew national attention. News networks interrupted coverage to show footage of officers sweeping schools and churches while campaign staff scrambled to reassure the public that voting could continue safely. State officials emphasized that voting machines and ballots were never at risk and that election data remained secure. Still, the optics of bomb threats on a critical Election Day raised fresh questions about the nation’s election infrastructure — and the growing trend of intimidation tactics meant to shake voter faith.
Election experts warned that even temporary disruptions could skew results in close races. Delays often discourage older voters or working-class residents who can’t afford to wait in long lines or return later in the day. With early voting already complete, Election Day turnout is typically decisive. Political analysts said that even a small dip in turnout in key suburban precincts could tilt the outcome toward one candidate.
By evening, most of the affected polling places had reopened under increased police protection. The governor’s office released a joint statement with the state’s Homeland Security director, calling the threats “cowardly” and promising accountability. “We will find those responsible,” it read. “New Jersey voters will not be intimidated.”
Despite reassurances, voters and officials alike admitted that the atmosphere felt different. This was not simply a matter of logistics; it was a test of endurance and trust. In a year when tensions have already run high, the sight of armed officers outside polling stations and the sound of evacuation sirens on Election Day felt like a jarring reminder of the fragility of the democratic process.
Still, there was resilience. Poll workers adapted swiftly, voters waited patiently, and officials kept communication lines open across counties. One elderly voter in Ocean County summed it up simply as she re-entered her polling place: “They can scare us, but they can’t stop us.”
As night fell, both campaigns braced for a long count. With results expected to come in slowly from relocated precincts, election officials warned that final tallies might not be known until late Wednesday or even Thursday. What began as an administrative nightmare had transformed into a symbol of endurance — the determination of voters who refused to let fear dictate their voice.
For now, the investigation continues, the polls remain open under watchful eyes, and the people of New Jersey press forward, aware that the outcome of this election — and perhaps the faith in the process itself — may hinge on how calmly and confidently they navigate one of the most chaotic Election Days in recent memory.
