After a judge ruled a poll worker did not provide adequate assistance to a woman who accidentally cast a blank ballot, the woman will get a second chance to vote.
The Union County woman, who was older and whose first language is not English, said she had difficulty making selections on the machine while participating in early, in-person voting. She said the poll worker provided improper assistance, which led to her submitting a blank ballot.
A younger relative of the woman who also voted that day said she was not allowed to enter the voting booth to help the woman.
Superior Court Judge John Deitch directed the Union County Board of Elections to locate the woman’s blank ballot card and remove it; he ruled that she would be able to vote again.
The poll worker, who testified during the hearing, said she believed she had helped the woman sufficiently.
The New Jersey Globe withholds the names of voters who appear before judges to protect their privacy.
Attorneys representing the ACLU of New Jersey and Democracy Defenders argued on behalf of allowing the woman to re-do her ballot with proper assistance.
