Share
News

Trump Proven Right: Judge Orders New Election in NJ Race Trump Cited for Mail-In Voter Fraud

Share

Just days after President Donald Trump pointed to a New Jersey election as an example of the type of fraud possible with universal mail-in voting, a judge has thrown out its results.

It appeared Alex Mendez had won a special election held in May to fill a Paterson City Council seat by a little over two hundred votes. However, claims of voter fraud soon followed.

“An investigation was then launched after the U.S. Postal Service’s law enforcement arm told the state attorney general’s office about hundreds of mail-in ballots located in a mailbox in Paterson, along with more found in nearby Haledon,” according to The Associated Press.

State prosecutors ultimately brought voter fraud charges against Mendez and three others.

On Wednesday, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela ruled a new election for the council seat must be held in November.

Trending:
Prince Harry Named in Major Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Rapper

The ruling came after Trump again raised his concerns about mail-in voter fraud during a media briefing from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Saturday.

For the umpteenth time, he first had to explain he is not opposed to absentee voting, where the voter has to request a ballot and by doing so verifies his or her location and status as a living person.

This is in contrast to a system where ballots are automatically mailed to every registered voter on the rolls:

“Again, absentee voting is great. You request — I’m an absentee voter because I requested, I got, and then I sent in my vote. So that works out very well. That’s what we’ve had,” Trump said.

“But now they want to send in millions and millions of ballots. And you see what’s happening. They’re being lost, they’re being discarded. They’re finding them in piles. It’s going to be a catastrophe.”

The president cited the test runs of mass mail-in voting in New York and Virginia as other examples of the problematic consequences.

“Look at the catastrophe in New Jersey. And New Jersey had more than just Paterson,” Trump said. “Look at what’s going on in Virginia. Look at what’s happening with this mail-in voting. It’s a disgrace. Absentee is good; mail-in, universal is very, very bad. There’s no way they’re going to get it accurately. They’re off by 20 and 30 percent.”

NBC News reported that more one in five mail-in ballots were rejected in New York City during the state primary in June.

Related:
Lara Trump Reveals Top Priority as New RNC Co-Chair

As a result of the confusion, the winners in two congressional races were not declared until six weeks later.

Are you concerned universal mail-in ballots will lead to fraud?

The New York Times published a story earlier this month headlined: “Why the Botched N.Y.C. Primary Has Become the November Nightmare.”

Trump expressed similar sentiments to his Saturday remarks in a June 28 tweet.

“Absentee Ballots are fine. A person has to go through a process to get and use them. Mail-In Voting, on the other hand, will lead to the most corrupt Election is USA history,” he tweeted. “Bad things happen with Mail-Ins. Just look at Special Election in Patterson, N.J. 19% of Ballots a FRAUD!”

Despite Trump repeatedly making a distinction, the media still enjoys dinging him by conflating his opposition to mass mail-in voting with absentee voting.

CNN reported last week: “Trump and first lady request mail-in ballots despite attacks,” and NPR added this week: “Trump, While Attacking Mail Voting, Casts Mail Ballot Again.”

The president has even gone so far as to say he does not oppose mail-in voting in states that have been doing it for years and have safeguards in place.

For example, here in Arizona (where approximately 80 percent vote by mail), I received a notification in the mail from the county asking me whether I would like my ballot mailed to me or I would like to vote in person, both for the primary and general elections.

I mailed in my response. A ballot wasn’t automatically sent to my address (as is happening in multiple states, including New Jersey), with elections officials having no idea whether I still lived there or was even still a resident of the state.

The Trump campaign has sued New Jersey and Nevada over their plans to implement mass mail-in voting.

The president is right: Universal mail-in voting invites fraud and undermines the integrity of the election.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , , , ,
Share
Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




Conversation