Bomb Threats in NJ, Trump Slams California Voting Mark Election Day/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The final voting day in 2025 was marked by bomb threats in New Jersey and voter roll issues in Pennsylvania. President Trump warned of fraud in California’s mail-in system, calling it “RIGGED.” Despite disruptions, officials nationwide worked to secure polling and reassure voters.
Election Day Disruptions Quick Looks
- Bomb threats targeted polling places in seven New Jersey counties.
- Trump denounced California’s voting system as “rigged” amid redistricting battle.
- Pennsylvania faced poll book errors affecting 75,000 Chester County voters.
- California and New Jersey received federal election monitors.
- Officials across states reassured voters and secured polling locations.
- Trump’s claims echoed his pattern of pre-emptive fraud allegations.
- Gavin Newsom and CA Secretary of State rejected Trump’s accusations.
- Despite disruptions, voting proceeded smoothly in most U.S. regions.
Bomb Threats in NJ, Trump Slams California Voting Mark Election Day
Deep Look
The final day of the 2025 off-year election cycle was marred by a series of disruptive events, ranging from bomb threats in New Jersey to voting roll problems in Pennsylvania and unverified claims of fraud from President Donald Trump targeting California’s election process. These incidents, while largely contained by swift responses from law enforcement and election officials, underscored the tense political climate surrounding the first major election since Trump reclaimed the White House.
Bomb Threats Disrupt Voting in New Jersey
New Jersey faced a wave of bomb threats Tuesday morning, just as polls opened in several counties. Emails were sent to election offices in seven counties — Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic — warning of explosive devices at polling sites.
Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who also serves as the state’s chief election official, confirmed the threats and emphasized that law enforcement found no credible danger. In Passaic County, a key political battleground, some voters were temporarily redirected, but most sites were quickly cleared and reopened.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin noted that several polling sites were secured and reopened with minimal disruption. The FBI’s Newark office confirmed involvement in the investigation, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posting on social media that the Department of Justice remains committed to “free, fair and safe elections.”
Passaic County, notably the only New Jersey county monitored by federal officials on Election Day, received three separate threats. Local authorities promptly secured locations, including a school that was cleared before voting resumed.
Pennsylvania Polling Problems Affect Thousands
In Chester County, Pennsylvania, a significant voter roll error left nearly 20% of registered voters off the poll books. The issue primarily affected third-party and unaffiliated voters, totaling around 75,000 out of 385,000 countywide.
Officials identified the error shortly after polls opened and rushed to deploy supplemental poll books to over 230 polling locations. Voters who arrived before the updated lists were delivered were issued provisional ballots, which are reviewed within a week of the election.
Chester County, a Democratic-leaning region west of Philadelphia, was also voting on local offices and key judicial positions, including state Supreme Court justices. The issue is expected to undergo a formal post-election review.
Trump Slams California’s Mail Voting, DOJ Sends Monitors
In California, President Donald Trump ramped up attacks on the state’s mail-in voting system, calling the process “RIGGED” and claiming it was under “serious legal and criminal review”. He made the comments in a post on his social media platform, despite offering no evidence of any wrongdoing.
California is currently holding a pivotal vote on a redistricting initiative, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, which could rebalance congressional maps in response to Trump’s GOP-backed redistricting efforts in states like Texas.
Trump’s remarks follow his familiar pattern of casting doubt on elections without substantiation. In 2024, on Election Day, he falsely claimed “massive cheating” in Philadelphia and has continued to falsely assert that the 2020 election was stolen.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless, urging voters not to be deterred by misinformation. “California elections have been validated by the courts,” she said. “Voters will not be deceived.”
Governor Gavin Newsom responded directly on social media, calling Trump “a totally unserious person spreading false information in a desperate attempt to cope with his failures.”
National Stakes, Local Impact
Though an off-year election, key races were decided on Tuesday, including:
- Governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia
- The New York City mayoral race
- Supreme Court elections in Pennsylvania
- Voting rights and gun control measures in Maine
- California’s Proposition 50 redistricting measure
Trump’s Department of Justice deployed election monitors to five counties in California and Passaic County, NJ, at the request of Republican parties in both states. The increased scrutiny highlights growing partisan concern over voting procedures, even in reliably Democratic states like California.
Despite scattered issues, election officials in multiple states reported that voting proceeded smoothly for most Americans.
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