“Congress is advancing objective election integrity measures through the SAVE America Act. Meanwhile, New Jersey has enacted legislation that expands litigation and government oversight of election administration while doing nothing to safeguard elections.” — Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman, Election Transparency Initiative
New Law Prioritizes Lawsuits Over Election Integrity, ETI Warns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | LINK
Arlington, VA — July 7, 2026 — The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) today expressed deep disappointment following New Jersey’s enactment of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, legislation that moves the state in a markedly different direction from the commonsense election integrity reforms advancing in Congress through the SAVE America Act.
“The SAVE America Act focuses on preventing problems before they occur through objective verification. This law focuses on resolving disputes afterward through litigation,” Cuccinelli said. “Prevention builds confidence. Litigation erodes it.”
While the SAVE America Act strengthens public confidence by requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and establishing objective safeguards to protect the integrity of the voter rolls, New Jersey’s new law expands opportunities for litigation over election administration, grants broader authority to unelected officials, and gives judges greater influence over election administration.
“Americans have made it clear they expect honest elections,” said Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative. “Congress is advancing objective election integrity measures through the SAVE America Act. Meanwhile, New Jersey has enacted legislation that expands litigation and government oversight of election administration while doing nothing to objectively safeguard elections. Instead of strengthening election integrity, this law empowers litigation, expands bureaucratic oversight, and gives judges greater influence over election administration. That is exactly the wrong direction.”
Among the bill’s opponents was Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic), a former Passaic County Clerk who administered elections herself. Drawing on that firsthand experience, Corrado warned that New Jersey already has mechanisms to protect voting rights and questioned whether the legislation could be misapplied to routine Election Day operations. She was joined in opposition by Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cumberland).
“Senator Corrado understands something many legislators do not—administering elections requires flexibility to respond quickly to real-world circumstances while maintaining appropriate safeguards,” Cuccinelli continued. “Her experience as a county clerk gives her concerns particular credibility. Election laws should help election officials administer elections securely and consistently, not expose every operational decision to additional litigation.”
Those concerns were reinforced during committee testimony by Atlantic County Board of Elections Chairman Creed Pogue, a Democrat, who warned that the bill’s preclearance provisions could leave counties unable to respond quickly to unforeseen circumstances. As an example, Pogue testified that election officials might not be able to relocate ballot drop boxes in time following fires or other unexpected events because of the bill’s preclearance requirements.
ETI noted that election integrity and voter access are complementary goals, not competing ones.
“Public confidence is strengthened when election rules are clear, consistent, and applied uniformly—not when they become subject to continual legal challenges,” Cuccinelli concluded. “Every eligible citizen should be able to vote, and every lawful ballot should be counted. But confidence in elections also depends upon transparent rules, equal treatment, and objective safeguards. Americans deserve election laws that strengthen confidence through objective safeguards—not laws that invite endless litigation over routine election administration. New Jersey has missed an opportunity to follow the growing national movement toward stronger election integrity.”
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About the Election Transparency Initiative
The Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) was established as a partnership between the American Principles Project (APP) and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. ETI works nationwide to advance commonsense election reforms that protect the integrity of the vote and strengthen public trust in election outcomes through policies that enhance transparency, accountability, and confidence in American elections. ETI is chaired by Ken Cuccinelli, who previously served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Attorney General of Virginia.
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