New Jersey Ballot Drop Box Records Challenge
Republican National Committee v. Burlington County Board of Elections
An anti-voting lawsuit seeking access to ballot drop box chain-of-custody logs and surveillance footage.
Background
The Republican National Committee (RNC) sued the Burlington County Board of Elections claiming the county unlawfully withheld certain election-related records that the RNC requested under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
The RNC sought three sets of materials: video footage of a ballot drop box located outside the county elections office in Moorestown, chain-of-custody logs for all ballot drop boxes, and logs tracking when ballot containers were opened between June 1 and June 10, 2025. While the county provided the opening logs, it denied the RNC’s request for the footage and custody records, citing security and privacy exemptions.
The RNC argues those reasons are too broad and that the records should be made public to ensure “transparency” in ballot handling. Election officials maintain that releasing surveillance footage and detailed chain-of-custody data could compromise the security of election infrastructure and voter privacy.
Why It Matters
This case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits by Republican entities across the country seeking access to sensitive election records under the banner of election transparency. Voting rights advocates warn that these lawsuits can place additional burdens on local election offices and may be used to fuel misinformation or distrust in the electoral process.
Latest Updates
Oct. 24, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.