Bomb Threat Briefly Halts New Jersey Early Voting Site as First Day Gets Under Way

The opening day of early voting for the November 3, 2026 general election was briefly disrupted in New Jersey on Saturday, October 25, when authorities received a bomb threat at the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County, which was serving as an early voting location. The site was evacuated while law enforcement conducted a sweep of the premises; after confirming no explosive device was present, the site was declared clear and voting resumed. A juvenile was subsequently arrested in connection with the threat. Officials in Essex County emphasised that the temporary disruption had not stopped voters from casting ballots, and encouraged residents to return to the poll site once it reopened. The incident drew attention to security challenges facing poll sites during the expanded early-voting window, which runs through November 1 in New Jersey ahead of the November 3 general election. No injuries were reported in connection with the threat.