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NJ software error disclosed
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Tuesday that a “serious software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System” registered roughly 6,600 noncitizens to vote between June 2023 and June 2024, even though the applicants answered “no” on a keypad when asked if they were U.S. citizens.
“New Jersey accidentally registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote years ago, governor says The governor cited a "serious software error" for the incorrect registrations”
Sherrill said fewer than 400 of those people improperly cast votes, and she said there was “no evidence at this time that any elections were swayed” as a result.
The governor said the names are being removed from the voter rolls and that the noncitizens were registered “through no fault of their own,” while the state ordered an independent investigation and replacement of the vendor responsible for the faulty system.
The disclosure came as the Trump administration pushed Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, with White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson saying the New Jersey incident “underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act.”
Trump pressure and DOJ probe
Sherrill’s announcement fed into President Donald Trump’s broader push for election changes, with the White House framing the New Jersey incident as proof that Congress must act on the SAVE America Act.
In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “Democrats and their media allies have repeatedly said it is impossible for noncitizens to register to vote, let alone cast a ballot. Time and again, they have been proven wrong,” tying the New Jersey case to the administration’s argument about election integrity.
NBC News reported that Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a letter posted to X that the Justice Department is investigating the incident and is asking for the full names, dates of birth, nationalities, addresses, and registration dates of all 6,600 noncitizens, and for the 400 people who Sherrill says voted.
Sherrill also told reporters that “Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of election integrity,” while she said her office would ensure the state handles the issue itself and protect identities so immigration status is not imperiled.
What happens next
The state’s next steps include removing the erroneously registered names from New Jersey’s voter rolls and replacing the vendor running the Motor Vehicle System, according to Sherrill’s statements reported by multiple outlets.
“About 6,600 non-citizens were accidentally added to New Jersey’s voter rolls and about 400 cast improper ballots in recent elections, the state’s governor announced Tuesday”
ABC News said Sherrill ordered an independent investigation, removal of any New Jersey residents who should not have been registered, and that “the new administrator of New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission is starting to replace the vendor tasked with running the faulty system.”
The reporting also placed the disclosure in the context of DHS pressure on states, with ABC News describing that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to New Jersey and three other states alleging they might have tens of thousands of noncitizens registered to vote.
In parallel, the BBC reported that Sherrill said the accident happened when residents applying for drivers’ licenses and identification cards answered “no” on a keypad, and that the vendor responsible would be replaced as the state pursued accountability.
