TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey's secretary of state faces litigation from the Public Interest Legal Foundation, which alleges it is being denied access to records.
PILF sued Tahesha Way on May 17 in New Jersey federal court, alleging violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. PILF says it regularly uses the Public Disclosure Provision of the NVRA to determine whether lawful efforts are being made to keep voter rolls current and accurate.
But on March 25, PILF says a request for information regarding cancelling duplicate voter registration records was denied. New Jersey said the info was confidential because its disclosure "would expose critical vulnerability within the State's election process."
"By denying the Foundation the ability to obtain the requested voter list maintenance records, Defendant is also impairing the Foundation’s ability to... (1) assess compliance by New Jersey with state and federal voter list maintenance obligations and (2) aid New Jersey in carrying out its voter list maintenance programs and activities," the suit says.
"Defendant’s violation of the NVRA is thus frustrating, impeding, and harming the Foundation’s efforts to carry out its organizational mission and thereby injuring the Foundation."
Philadelphia lawyer Linda Kerns is representing PILF, as are its own attorneys Noel Johnson and Maureen Riordan.