Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that roughly 6,600 individuals who indicated noncitizen status while obtaining New Jersey driver’s licenses and state identification cards were incorrectly added to voter rolls in 2023 and 2024. According to the Democratic governor, a software error in the Motor Vehicle Commission system was responsible for the registration discrepancy. A preliminary examination determined that fewer than 400 of the improperly registered individuals proceeded to vote.
Sherrill stated she has ordered the removal of all erroneous voter registrations from the affected period and is replacing the vendor responsible for operating the system. She also announced an investigation into the circumstances that led to the error. In her statement, the governor expressed disapproval of what she characterized as failures in the system’s management and oversight during the previous administration under former Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.
The issue has emerged amid broader political debate regarding noncitizen voting. President Donald Trump and other Republicans have maintained that such voting occurs at significant levels in U.S. elections, while voting officials and research indicate instances remain rare. The Department of Homeland Security released a report identifying approximately 278,000 noncitizens registered across federal elections nationwide, with concentrations in California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested Sherrill’s action followed that report.
New Jersey permits individuals in the country illegally to obtain driver’s licenses, placing it among 19 states with such policies. Approximately half of all states employ automatic voter registration systems linked to driver’s license acquisition. Similar registration errors have occurred in other states; Oregon identified approximately 1,600 improperly registered individuals in 2024, while California’s 2019 audit revealed potential registration issues for roughly 1,500 people. Pennsylvania officials stated that evidence indicates noncitizen voting remains extremely rare throughout the country.