New Jersey Says Software Error Registered 6,600 Noncitizens
Wertynews.com – New Jersey says software error has led to a significant voter registration issue, with approximately 6,600 noncitizens being improperly registered to vote during 2023 and 2024. Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who assumed office earlier this year, announced the discovery on Tuesday. The governor attributed the problem to a Motor Vehicle Commission system software error, though preliminary data indicates that fewer than 400 of these individuals actually cast ballots after being registered.
The timing of this revelation is particularly notable, as President Trump and other Republican leaders have been actively promoting claims that noncitizen voting is widespread across American elections. While such instances remain rare, they can carry serious consequences, including felony charges and potential deportation when discovered. Governor Sherrill has directed that all voter registrations added during the 2023-24 period be removed from the system. Additionally, she announced plans to replace the vendor responsible for operating the registration system.
The Investigation and Political Response
Sherrill has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly how this error occurred. In a formal statement, she expressed her frustration with the situation. “I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen and the lack of transparency shown by those in charge at the time,” she stated. The previous governor during this period was Phil Murphy, also a Democrat. The Associated Press has been working to obtain comments from Murphy or his representatives regarding the matter.
New Jersey is one of several states that permit noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses and other state-issued identification cards. This policy context is important for understanding how the registration error could occur in the first place. The state’s registration system relies on information provided when individuals apply for these IDs, which may not always accurately reflect citizenship status.
Broader National Context
The New Jersey situation has emerged amid broader national discussions about noncitizen voting. President Trump has claimed that more than 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote across four states, though the administration has not yet released detailed methodology for this figure. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently identified California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada as the states in question. According to a White House official speaking to reporters on Thursday, this estimate of 250,000 noncitizen registered voters was derived from an analysis of commercial databases.
However, experts caution that this approach may produce inaccurate results. David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, noted that commercial database methods are likely to generate false positives, potentially overestimating the number of noncitizens on voter rolls. “I guarantee you, that data includes a ton of people, maybe even a majority of people, who are absolutely eligible voters, and states would probably be breaking the law if they remove those voters from the rolls,” Becker explained. He also serves as a CBS News election law contributor.
The Center for Election Innovation and Research has found that allegations of noncitizens casting ballots or registering to vote typically “appear to arise from misunderstandings, mischaracterizations, or outright fabrications about complex voter data.”
As New Jersey moves forward with its investigation and cleanup efforts, the case highlights the challenges of maintaining accurate voter registration systems in an increasingly diverse electorate. The state’s response demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability as it works to resolve the registration errors while ensuring that eligible voters are not disenfranchised in the process.
