A video surfaced showing a Union City, New Jersey resident entering an early voting trailer containing voting machines and election materials nearly an hour before the polls officially opened. The footage, captured by independent journalist Leonard Filipowski, known as Leroy Truth, has ignited concerns over election security and the handling of sensitive voting equipment.
Unattended Voting Machines Discovered Before Polls Open
At approximately 9:01 a.m. on Tuesday, the video shows a man walking into a mobile early voting trailer located at 10th Street and Summit Avenue. The trailer, which housed two voting machines, electronic poll books, and other election materials, was unlocked and unattended. No election staff were present at the site, which was scheduled to open an hour later at 10 a.m.
According to Leroy Truth, multiple sources informed him that the trailer had been left unlocked throughout the night. This claim was later confirmed by Hudson County Board of Elections Clerk Michael Harper, who acknowledged that the door had been left unlocked. Harper attributed the oversight to an electrician responsible for servicing the generators powering Union City’s early voting trailers, stating the electrician had checked the site around 8:50 a.m. and “wrongfully” left the door unsecured.
Officials Defend Machine Integrity Despite Security Lapse
Harper assured that the voting machines were not replaced following the incident. He explained that election officials conducted a real-time diagnostic check, which revealed that the machines and poll books had not been powered on, Wi-Fi was disabled, and vote totals matched those recorded the previous night. He emphasized that password protections and physical safeguards, including locked USB ports, would have made casual tampering difficult.
Despite these assurances, Harper described the video as potentially a “setup” and claimed the trailer was unlocked for no more than 30 minutes, contradicting claims it was left unsecured overnight. He also noted that the county had been in contact with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Authorities are reportedly considering trespassing charges against the individual who entered the trailer.
Calls for Independent Federal Investigation
Leroy Truth challenged the official narrative, arguing that the machines being left unlocked and unattended constitutes a major security breach regardless of the electrician’s explanation. He dismissed the suggestion that the video was a setup, stating that leaving the machines unsecured is itself a serious issue.
Truth has called for an independent investigation by the FBI, citing additional evidence of alleged corruption involving local officials, including Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack. He has urged federal authorities to preserve all evidence and verify the integrity of the voting machines involved.
Legal Requirements for Polling Place Security
Under New Jersey law, specifically Section 19:48-6 of Title 19, municipalities are required to provide ample police protection to prevent tampering, molestation, or damage to voting machines once they are delivered to polling places. The apparent failure to secure the early voting trailer raises questions about compliance with these legal protections.
Unanswered Questions Remain
- Who else may have accessed the unlocked trailer before polls opened?
- Were the voting machines compromised in any way during the period they were unattended?
- Why were the machines not replaced or subjected to additional security measures following the discovery?
The incident has sparked debate over election security protocols in Hudson County and beyond, highlighting the challenges of safeguarding voting infrastructure during early voting periods.
Conclusion
The discovery of an unlocked and unattended early voting trailer in Union City, New Jersey, has raised significant concerns about the security of election equipment. While county officials maintain confidence in the machines’ integrity and attribute the lapse to human error, independent journalists and observers are demanding a thorough federal investigation. As election security remains a critical issue nationwide, this incident underscores the importance of stringent safeguards and transparency to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
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