The ACLU of New Jersey and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey filed the suit earlier this evening in an attempt to keep the polls open until 9:30 p.m. due to operational problems with electronic voting machines that resulted in delayed openings at polling locations, long lines, and confusion.

“Operational issues should not prevent voters from casting a ballot,” said ACLU-NJ Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero. “We heard reports throughout the day that there were people being denied access to their right to vote and felt the need to take urgent action. We’re disappointed that the judge didn’t agree, but we will always take action to protect one of our most fundamental civil rights: the right to cast a ballot and participate in democracy.”

“Polling place delays and issues statewide caused voters to leave without casting a ballot,” said Jesse Burns, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “These voters showed up, waited in long lines, only to run out of time before they had to leave or were turned away. They had the right to have their voice heard in this election.”

New Jersey law requires that polling locations be open between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Due to widespread technological issues reported throughout New Jersey, voters throughout the state were unable to cast their ballot at their local polling locations during these scheduled hours. The late opening of numerous polling locations spread across the state and ongoing operational issues throughout the day resulted in dozens of voters being turned away, asked to return later, or leaving because of the long waits, resulting in their inability to cast a ballot.