Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G Rios announced a collaboration with the Middlesex County Board of Elections, as well as the 28 police departments throughout the county, on the anti-election fraud campaign entitled VIP – Voter Integrity Program.
The campaign was initiated by Middlesex County officials in an effort to protect the election process from illegal interference. The primary goal of VIP is to discourage fraud, as well as targeting for prosecution those who illegally interfere with the voting process, according to the statement.
“The goal of this anti-fraud campaign is to ensure that Middlesex County voters have confidence in the election process, and to see that every valid vote counts,” Carey said in the statement. “While the mail-in ballot process is an improvement to our election system, there is new potential for fraud which we will aggressively investigate and prosecute.”
Rios supports the program’s efforts to increase public awareness and encourage residents to take an active role in helping protect the election process.
“VIP will ensure that we can all trust in the security of our voting process,” Rios said.
Voters should be aware that when completing a vote-by-mail application, any person aiding them must complete the “Assistor” section, and voters must designate any person serving as an authorized messenger by completing the “Authorized Messenger” section of the application. A messenger is a family member or a registered voter of the county. No authorized messenger can be a candidate in the election for which the voter is requesting a Mail-In Ballot or serve as messenger for more than three qualified voters per election, according to the statement.
Those who opt for a vote-by-mail ballot should be very wary of anyone who is not their properly authorized assistor or messenger and offers to fill in their ballot for them.
Anyone who suspects voter fraud at the polls, with their vote-by-mail ballot, or has related information regarding a possible crime, should contact their local police department or Middlesex County Detective Stephanie Redline at 732-745-3115.
In addition, tip information may also be provided anonymously by calling 1-800-939-9600 or submitted online at www.middlesextips.com. Tips may also be sent by text messaging 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword “midtip” followed by the tip information.
