VOTER FRAUD
Ex-chief investigator of elections charged with fraudulent voting, interference with elections >>
TRENTON >> A former chief investigator of Mercer County elections has been charged with voter fraud after officials learned she resides in Pennsylvania, yet has voted in New Jersey since at least 2012.
Andrea Palmucci-McGillicuddy, 52, is charged with fraudulent voting, interference with elections and other related offenses, according to court records.
The charges were filed in Princeton Municipal Court and the case has been referred to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office due to conflicts of interest in Mercer.
McGillicuddy, a registered Democrat, gained employment with Mercer County in October 2011 as a seasonal assistant, according to records obtained by this newspaper. A year later, she started working full-time with the Superintendent of Elections Office to the Mercer County Board of Elections as a registration clerk. She was promoted to Chief Investigator of Elections in 2014, starting with a yearly salary of $46,000.
Records show she received raises each year, and last earned an annual salary of $61,430, before leaving her position on June 29, according to a public records request.
Palmucci-McGillicuddy’s latest New Jersey voter registration application filed in April of this year says she resides on Lowell Court in Princeton, with a previous registered address on Kuser Road in Hamilton, which was the address she had used since at least 2014.
But public property records show she has maintained an address on Forsythia Drive East in Middletown, Pa., since perhaps as far back as 2001. Her husband Russell McGillicuddy is listed as the current owner of that property.
Mercer County records show that Andrea used her maiden name Palmucci on a quit claim deed transferring to her ownership of a West Windsor condominium from her father Russell in June 2001. Her address listed on those documents is that same Forsythia Drive home in Middletown.
All of this has led Mercer County Republican Committee Chairwoman Lisa Richford to allege that prominent Democratic officials knew Palmucci-McGillicuddy has resided across the Delaware River throughout her employment in New Jersey.
“It is my understanding that her current direct report Catherine DiCostanzo, Superintendent of Elections is aware of this,” Richford wrote in a June 19 letter to Mercer Democratic Committee Chairwoman Janice Mironov. “Furthermore, JoAnne Palmucci, Chair, Mercer County Board of Elections is Andrea Palmucci-McGillicuddy’s step-mother.”
Richford wrote the letter to Mironov objecting to the appointment of Palmucci-McGillicuddy who may have been considered for an open position as office supervisor.
“Any position within the office of Board of Elections is absolutely blatant nepotism, is a conflict of interest and ethics violation,” Richford wrote in the letter, which was obtained by this newspaper.
Palmucci-McGillicuddy’s last day of employment with the county was 10 days after Richford sent the letter.
When reached for comment, Richford said, “Mercer County, New Jersey is our Broward County, Florida,” before declining to comment further on the allegations against Palmucci-McGillicuddy.
It’s unclear why Palmucci-McGillicuddy left her job as chief investigator. The county typically doesn’t comment beyond employment verification, and a spokesperson declined to comment on any police investigation.
“If the matter is under investigation, the county will fully cooperate with law enforcement,” Julie Willmot said.
Court records show PalmucciMcGillicuddy was arrested October 26, in connection with an offense that happened on June 5, the same day New Jersey held state primary elections and exactly one week before the municipal run-off elections.
In addition to voter fraud and interference with elections, she is charged with false swearing and witness tampering. This newspaper has not yet obtained the full criminal complaint, which may include additional details about the alleged offenses.
New Jersey law states that individuals must be a resident of a county for at least 30 days before an election in order to register to vote.
Palmucci-McGillicuddy’s arrest is the latest blow for Mercer County election officials who have been criticized for their efforts administering and managing the Trenton municipal election, which included a sample ballot snafu that landed in court. More than 750 city voters were impacted by the gaffe, but a judge ultimately decided against postponing the election.
Additionally, two-time mayoral candidate Paul Perez and supporters twice tried to unseat JoAnne Palmucci as chairwoman of the board of elections: once before the municipal election and again after now-mayor Reed Gusciora won the run-off.
JoAnne Palmucci received criticism for helping to throw a fundraising bash for mayoral candidate Walker Worthy, and was later named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Perez supporters alleging she failed to maintain order at the polls as part of widespread electioneering claims that were also leveled against Gusciora.
When reached via a number listed on her Mercer County employee change of address form, Palmucci-McGillicuddy hung up the phone.