Bomb threats on Election Day forced towns across New Jersey to move their polling locations and shut down schools, while police sources said New York City and federal authorities responded to an “elaborate swatting attempt” targeting polling sites.
Manhattan polling locations in Washington Heights, the West Village and Midtown received messages containing threats of a “terroristic nature,” police sources said, through the City Board of Elections email system.
No disruptions to voting in New York were reported as a result of the threats, sources said.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said polling sites, including schools, in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic counties received threats on Tuesday, forcing some to close temporarily.
Authorities made at least one arrest and determined the threats, sent via text and email, were not credible.
In came as voters cast their ballots in the closely watched race for governor, between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Polls close at 8 p.m.
Sherrill, on social media, called the threats a “clear attempt to undermine our democratic system and intimidate New Jerseyans from going to the polls to exercise their right to vote,” and urged voters “not to be deterred.”
A spokesperson for Ciattarelli told CBS News New York, “There’s no place in politics for nonsense like this … Fortunately, first responders are doing a great job to ensure that everybody is able to resume voting quickly and safely.”
Election Day bomb threats in New Jersey
Before the New York City threats came to light, police in New Jersey responded to bomb threats at polling places in seven North Jersey counties, causing temporary closures at some and even forcing several schools to cancel classes.
Police said the threatening emails went out early Tuesday morning, before polls opened at 6 a.m.
“Law enforcement officers have responded at each affected polling place, and they have worked swiftly to secure these polling locations and ensure the safety of every voter,” Platkin had said in a statement.
In Middlesex County, a Somerville Elementary School employee reported one of the emails at around 5:30 a.m., prompting officials to close all schools in the Ridgewood district. The superintendent had said after-school activities could still take place, but the schools did not reopen even after police deemed the treats were not credible.
Village of Ridgewood Police staged in the area of Somerville Elementary School after the polling place was evacuated because of a bomb threat on Election Day in Ridgewood, New Jersey on November 4, 2025.
Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
“It was pretty clear the email had the characteristics and hallmark of something that was probably mass produced, probably not originating from our country, but there was enough specificity, especially with respect to who it was sent to, that we wanted to give our due diligence with respect to investigating,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz said.
“This change was made out of an abundance of caution, with public safety as our top priority. We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience as we work to ensure a fair, secure, and accessible election for all,” county officials said.
Lt. Gov. Tahesa Way, who serves as the state’s chief election official, said law enforcement investigated and determined “there are no credible threats at this time.”
“We are doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers and coordinate closely with state, local and federal partners to ensure a smooth and safe election. We encourage every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote before 8:00 p.m. today,” Way said in a statement.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was aware of the threats targeting polling locations.
“We are on it,” Bondi wrote on social media. “This [Department] of Justice is committed to free, fair and safe elections.”
Arrest made in threat to school that was a polling site
North Brunswick police arrested a juvenile suspect in connection with the text message bomb threat at Livingston Park Elementary School, where voters had to be directed to another location. Police did not say if the juvenile is at all connected to other threats in Middlesex County or beyond.
“That’s very concerning, but seems like the way of the world today. I try to live with it, I have to live with it,” Tony Russell, a voter, said.
Middlesex closed its poll sites at Avenel Middle School and Livingston Park Elementary, and redirected voters to either Woodbine Avenue Elementary School or Linwood School instead.
“This change was made out of an abundance of caution, with public safety as our top priority. We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience as we work to ensure a fair, secure, and accessible election for all,” Middlesex officials said.
Bergen County officials said all of their polling locations were safe and open for voting.
“Bergen County law enforcement continues to investigate these incidents, which appear to be malicious, intimidation-driven acts intended to disrupt the democratic process,” county officials said in a statement. “Authorities have confirmed that there is no threat to public safety or to any polling place. Residents can be confident that law enforcement has taken all necessary steps to ensure polling sites remain safe and secure.”
Police in Paterson and Ewing also confirmed they were investigating bomb threats. Ewing Police said one threat targeted the poll site at Ewing High School, which is already closed for Election Day.
School district to rethink Election Day procedures
Ridgewood School District leaders said they plan to review the practice of holding classes while schools are serving as polling sites, as a result of Tuesday’s threats.
“In consultation with the Ridgewood Police Department, out of an abundance of caution, and to allow our community resources to remain focused on keeping polls open, I made the decision to close schools for the day,” Schwarz said in a message to the community.
“Unfortunately, with the timeframes, we did not feel that we were going to have a sufficient amount of time to give people appropriate safety assurances to be able to say we were going to proceed with school. And given the importance of maintaining the integrity of the polling sites, we decided to close schools, so that way the emphasis and the effort could be focused on keeping the polls open and safe,” the superintendent told CBS News New York.
New Jersey residents can report any suspicious activity to the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness at 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or at tips@njohsp.gov.
Mark Prussin and
contributed to this report.
More from CBS News