Appeals Court Sides with Gloucester Republicans in Ballot Design Case, Orders County to Follow Election Law
TRENTON, N.J. (October 10, 2025) – In a major win for voters and election integrity, the New Jersey Appellate Division today ruled that Gloucester County officials must immediately correct their unlawful general election ballot, siding with the Gloucester County Republican Committee and its candidates, Jonathan M. Sammons and Byron Driscoll.
The unanimous three-judge panel granted the plaintiffs’ emergent appeal, finding that the county’s ballot design violated multiple provisions of state election law and ordering officials to restore the legally required “column” format in time for early voting later this month.
“This ruling is a decisive victory for the rule of law,” said Josiah Contarino, an attorney with Dhillon Law Group who represents the plaintiffs. “The Appellate Division made clear that election officials cannot ignore New Jersey’s statutory requirements. Every Gloucester County voter now has the assurance that their ballot will comply with the law.”
In its order, the Appellate Division reversed the lower court’s refusal to require ballot redesign, holding that the “office block” format used by the Gloucester County Clerk violated N.J.S.A. 19:14-6, 19:14-8, and 19:14-12, which mandate that general election ballots be arranged in party-based columns. The court noted there was ample time to correct the touchscreen ballots for in-person voting before early voting begins on October 25.
The appellate panel’s decision vacates the stay that had been imposed while the appeal was pending and directs the trial court to enter an order granting the relief requested by the Republican plaintiffs.
“The court’s ruling ensures that Gloucester County voters will have a lawful, fair, and easy-to-read ballot this election,” said a spokesperson for the New Jersey Republican Party. “That’s what every voter deserves—and today’s decision makes sure they’ll get it.”
This case, Jonathan M. Sammons, Byron Driscoll, and the Gloucester County Republican Committee v. James N. Hogan, et al., stems from the County Clerk’s decision to issue ballots using a format inconsistent with state law and the official August 11 ballot drawing, which awarded Column A to Republican candidates.