Republican National Committee Fights to Stop Democrats From Counting 300 “Naked Ballots” in Bergen County as Election Integrity Battle Heats Up
The fight over election integrity in New Jersey has reignited just as votes are being tallied in one of the most closely watched races of the year. The Republican National Committee has stepped in to back a lawsuit aimed at blocking roughly 300 mail-in ballots in Bergen County that officials say were submitted without proper secrecy envelopes — a clear violation of New Jersey’s election law. The ballots, known as “naked ballots,” have sparked a fierce standoff at the county Board of Elections, where a 3-3 partisan deadlock has frozen the count and drawn national attention.
At the center of the dispute is a simple but crucial rule. New Jersey law requires every mail-in ballot to be sealed inside an inner “secrecy envelope” before being placed in the outer return envelope. Without it, election officials are prohibited from counting the vote to ensure anonymity and prevent tampering. But Democrats on the Bergen County board argue the voters should be notified and allowed to “cure” their mistakes by submitting provisional ballots. Republicans, backed by the RNC and the state GOP, say doing so would be unlawful and could open the door to chaos.
“Democrats are trying at the last minute to get officials to count roughly 300 illegal ballots in Bergen County,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement. “We’re fighting to make sure only lawful votes are counted. Every illegal ballot cancels out a legal one, and that’s not something we’ll ever allow.”
The RNC’s move comes as part of a larger nationwide push to tighten ballot security and restore voter confidence after years of controversy surrounding mail-in voting. For Republicans, Bergen County — New Jersey’s most populous — has become a flashpoint in that fight. The county has long been a bellwether for statewide outcomes, often swinging narrowly between the two parties. With margins razor-thin in this year’s gubernatorial and congressional races, even a few hundred ballots could make a difference.
The lawsuit, supported by both the RNC and the New Jersey Republican Party, argues that the state’s mail-in procedures are being “manipulated for partisan advantage.” GOP officials insist that state law leaves no room for interpretation: naked ballots must be rejected outright, not cured after the fact. “Rules exist for a reason,” said one party official. “The integrity of the vote matters more than anyone’s political convenience.”
Democrats, meanwhile, claim the Republican push is an attempt to suppress valid votes from being counted, arguing that some voters were confused by ballot instructions or language barriers. Their members on the board have refused to certify results until the issue is resolved, calling for what they describe as “equal treatment for all voters.” But Republicans counter that any effort to reinterpret election law on the fly undermines both fairness and transparency.
As the legal battle intensifies, election officials remain caught in limbo. Bergen County Clerk John Hogan confirmed that the disputed ballots have been securely stored pending judicial review, but warned that the gridlock could delay final results if not resolved quickly. “We’re following the law to the letter,” Hogan said. “We’ve been instructed not to count these ballots until a judge makes a ruling.”
The RNC’s involvement underscores how local election disputes have taken on national significance in recent years. Following the controversies of 2020, the committee has built a large network of election integrity lawyers and observers deployed across key swing regions. The organization says its mission is not to block votes but to ensure every legitimate one is protected. “We’re not against voting,” said Gruters. “We’re against cutting corners. The people of New Jersey deserve an election process that’s clear, lawful, and trusted.”
The lawsuit also comes amid growing scrutiny of mail-in ballot handling across several states. Similar disputes have erupted in Pennsylvania and Michigan, where GOP attorneys have challenged ballot curing practices they say violate established statutes. In each case, Republicans argue that election administrators lack authority to alter procedures without legislative approval — a stance echoed in multiple court rulings over the past few years.
In Bergen County, the tension feels especially high. The region, home to nearly a million residents and a diverse mix of suburban and urban voters, has often mirrored the mood of the state. In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy narrowly carried the county despite strong Republican turnout elsewhere. This year’s contest is expected to be even closer, and both parties see the mail-in count as potentially decisive.
Behind the scenes, legal teams from both sides are preparing for a long night. Sources familiar with the RNC’s efforts say additional observers have been dispatched to ensure ballot chain-of-custody procedures are followed to the letter. “No one is stopping legal votes,” one source emphasized. “But we are stopping illegal ones. If you can’t follow the basic rules of an election, your ballot shouldn’t count — period.”
The battle over “naked ballots” may seem technical, but its implications reach far beyond one county. It’s part of a broader clash over how America votes — one that’s been building since the pandemic-era expansion of mail-in voting. For Republicans, the issue isn’t just about a few hundred ballots; it’s about restoring public faith in elections after years of confusion and controversy.
While Democrats accuse the GOP of weaponizing election law for political gain, Republicans see themselves as defending the fundamental principle of one person, one vote. “This isn’t about politics,” Gruters insisted. “It’s about protecting democracy from being watered down by sloppiness or intentional misconduct. When you start bending the rules for convenience, you erode the trust that makes democracy possible.”
As of Tuesday night, no court ruling had been issued. The ballots remain under seal, the count remains paused, and Bergen County voters are left waiting for an answer. But one thing is clear: the Republican Party’s election integrity fight isn’t slowing down anytime soon — and in the nation’s most densely populated state, every single envelope now carries the weight of national attention.
