Low Turnout & Outdated Voter Rolls Shadow Harrison’s Election Results

Despite a hotly contested statewide race for Governor between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, voter turnout in the Town of Harrison was remarkably low. Of the 9,496 registered voters, only 3,097 cast ballots in the General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, representing a turnout of just over 32% — a figure that raises renewed concern about voter engagement and the accuracy of Harrison’s voter rolls.

Sherrill Dominates Harrison, But Few Showed Up

Mikie Sherrill overwhelmingly carried Harrison, winning nearly 80% of the townwide vote, while Jack Ciattarelli received approximately 17%. However, the real story may not be the margin of victory but the lack of participation.

The highest total number of votes came from District 4-3, where 260 ballots were cast. Yet the highest percentage turnout occurred in District 3-1, where 37.6% of registered voters participated. That is still well below what is typically expected in a governor’s race.

4th Ward Comparison: Dolaghan Outpolls His Party’s Governor Candidate

In the 4th Ward, the only local race had former Councilman Michael Dolaghan seeking to regain his council seat after changing his mind on retiring. Dolaghan was fortunate that the members of the Harrison County Committee were so busy that they didn’t have the time to hold a meeting, according to his fellow Council member and the Chairman of the Harrison Democratic Party, James Doran, otherwise another resident of the 4^th ward would have been nominated and chosen to be the Candidate on the ballot.

The local contest showed strong engagement. Dolaghan, a Democrat, received 561 votes, surpassing his fellow Democrat Governor candidate Mikie Sherrill, who received 525 votes in the same ward.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli tallied 233 votes across the 4th Ward’s three districts. Dolaghan’s results suggested that 4^th Ward residents are still fond of Councilman Dolaghan and some just came out to vote for him. The fact that Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 233 votes in the heavily Democratic ward indicates dissatisfaction on the part of Harrison’s 4^th Ward.

Persistent Concerns About Outdated Voter Rolls

While the turnout figures tell one story, the underlying numbers may be misleading. Harrison’s registered voter total of 9,496 likely includes individuals who have moved away from the town but remain listed as active voters.

In past elections, allegations have circulated that some former residents, whose names remain on the rolls, cast ballots despite no longer living in Harrison. Hudson County election officials have been slow to purge ineligible voters from the voter roles, leaving open the potential for committing voter fraud.

Such issues have fueled concerns among residents about the integrity of local elections. While there has been no proven fraud case in the most recent contest, the stagnant voter list continues to erode confidence and invites scrutiny from those demanding cleaner and more transparent electoral processes.

A Call for Accountability and Engagement

The 2025 General Election should serve as a wake-up call for both voters and election officials. The town’s chronically low participation rate, paired with outdated registration records, paints a troubling picture.

If Harrison wants to ensure that every legitimate vote counts, and only legitimate votes count. The county must modernize voter maintenance procedures. At the same time, civic leaders and residents must rekindle interest in participating in democracy at every level, from the Governor’s mansion to the Mayor & Town Council chambers.

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