Armed poll watchers: New Jersey’s 1981 racist voter intimidation campaign is a cautionary tale ahead of 2026 midterms

In 1981, New Jersey experienced a voter intimidation campaign that highlights the dangers of voter suppression tactics. During the gubernatorial race, about 200 patrols, many carrying guns, were deployed across the state. These patrols were tasked with monitoring the polls and challenging voters who were suspected of attempting to cheat.

In Trenton, a Black voter was turned away when she couldn't produce her registration card. Latino voters faced challenges in Vineland, while Newark saw poll workers being chased away by armed patrolmen. Similar incidents occurred in Camden and Atlantic City.

The Republican National Committee orchestrated this operation, with John A. Kelly leading the effort. In 1981, Kelly sent about 200,000 letters to voters in heavily Black and Latino districts, claiming these letters were returnable. Those who returned the letters were added to a list of potential fraudsters. In Newark, Anthony Imperiale, a white vigilante, organized patrols, often manned by off-duty police and security officers. These patrols aimed to deter fraud at the polls.

This voter suppression campaign ultimately helped Republican Thomas Kean win the gubernatorial election by fewer than 1,800 votes. However, Democrats soon uncovered the truth behind the "ballot security" campaign. They filed a lawsuit, alleging that the Republican efforts were aimed at intimidating, threatening, and coercing Black and Hispanic voters.

In 1982, the Republican committees settled the case by signing a federal consent decree, vowing not to use race as a factor in selecting targets for ballot security activities and to refrain from deploying armed poll watchers. However, this decree expired in 2018 after Democrats failed to convince a judge to renew it, leaving the stage open for similar tactics to resurface.