Dhillon Law Group Files Open Public Records Lawsuit on Behalf of the Republican National Committee Against Burlington County Board of Elections
NEWARK, NJ — The Dhillon Law Group Inc., on behalf of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has filed a lawsuit against the Burlington County Board of Elections in New Jersey for refusing to provide public records related to ballot drop box chain of custody logs and surveillance footage from the June 2025 primary election. The action was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Burlington County.
The lawsuit, brought under New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the common law right of access, seeks to compel the Burlington County Board of Elections to release chain of custody documentation that should be available for public inspection under state transparency laws.
“Election transparency and public accountability are essential to maintaining voter confidence in the electoral process,” said Josiah Contarino, the Dhillon Law Group attorney representing the RNC. “Our client and the public have a right to know how ballots are handled once deposited in drop boxes. These are simple chain-of-custody records, not trade secrets. When government agencies refuse to disclose them, it raises serious concerns about compliance with election integrity standards.”
The RNC’s OPRA request, filed on August 22, 2025, sought (1) video footage of the Moorestown ballot drop box for June 1–10, 2025, (2) all chain of custody logs for every ballot drop box in Burlington County during that time, and (3) internal container opening logs for those same dates. While the County eventually provided limited opening logs, it denied access to the chain of custody records and claimed blanket security exemptions—without explaining how they applied, and claimed not to possess the video footage.
“The public deserves transparency, not obstruction,” added Contarino. “These records are basic election documents showing when and by whom ballots were retrieved. Withholding them under vague claims of security is contrary to both the letter and spirit of OPRA. Our lawsuit simply asks the court to enforce the law as written.”
The complaint requests that the court order Burlington County to produce the requested records, certify full compliance, and award attorneys’ fees and costs to the RNC.