Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo is calling on state legislators to adopt stronger regulations when it comes to the use of messenger ballots in elections.
“I’m tired of the misuse and abuse of messenger ballots that threaten the integrity of our election process,” Giralo said. “Atlantic County has an unfortunate history of election corruption involving messenger ballots which should not be tolerated. We also need the support of law enforcement.”
Messenger ballots are intended to help voters who have not signed up for a vote-by-mail ballot or have chosen not to go to the polls. They allow a voter to designate a person to pick up and deliver a mail-in ballot to that voter.
A number of homeless individuals in Atlantic City and Pleasantville have been propositioned to participate in fraudulent messenger ballot activities, Giralo claimed.
“There are obvious flaws in the system that need immediate attention,” he said. "Voters have several means to vote with early voting, mail-in ballots and at election day polling locations. As the system currently operates, I’m not sure the benefits of messenger ballots outweigh the risks of corruption.
“I believe it is something we need to review and improve for the protection of our electoral process,” he added.
Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson agreed.
“Atlantic County taxpayers and voters are extremely fortunate to have a county clerk the caliber of Joe Giralo,” he said. “I know the Board of County Commissioners and the Mayors Association also agree that the integrity of our elections is a high priority. We stand with County Clerk Joe Giralo in seeking this much-needed reform.”
