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- The RNC says it requested documents from NJ Division of Elections in March and July 3.
The Republican National Committee has sued the New Jersey Division of Elections, accusing state officials of failing to release records related to voter roll maintenance and voting machine audits.
Filed July 17 in Mercer County Superior Court, the lawsuit targets the state’s response to two public records requests submitted by the RNC earlier this year. One, filed in March, sought documentation on New Jersey’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. Another, filed July 3, asked for seal audit logs tied to voting machines used during the June 2025 primary.
In the complaint, the RNC accuses the state of violating both the Open Public Records Act and the common law right to access public information.
In a statement, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said the suit is about transparency and accused the state of “slow walking access to records.”
“The people of New Jersey have a right to know that their elections are being run fairly, securely, and in full compliance with the law,” he said.
The RNC says it received no reply for nearly three months after its initial records request. When the state did respond, it provided only a partial answer. The follow-up request for audit logs was denied, with officials citing OPRA exemptions involving sensitive technical information and potential security risks.
Attorneys for the RNC argue those exemptions do not apply. Seal logs record whether voting machine seals remained intact during storage, transport and polling, and the contents of those logs are routinely disclosed in other states and pose no threat, according to the RNC’s argument.
“No known state interest outweighs the right of the RNC to obtain this basic-level due diligence information,” the complaint states.
The committee is seeking a court order compelling the Division of Elections to release the requested records, waive any associated fees and certify that it has complied fully.
The Division of Elections did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the lawsuit, state officials acknowledged receipt of the March request in June and said they were reviewing it. The July 15 denial of the audit log request came two days before the lawsuit was filed.
The case comes as the RNC steps up oversight of election administration in response to ongoing concerns from some Republican leaders, most prominently President Donald Trump, about voter integrity and fraud. This lawsuit does not allege fraud, but focuses on whether agencies are complying with public records and maintenance obligations.
The case has been assigned to the Superior Court in Mercer County. No hearing date has been set.
