New Jersey Admits 'Software Error' Registered Over 6,600 Noncitizens to Vote; Many Cast Ballots

New Jersey officials revealed this week that a software error at the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission improperly registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote between June 2023 and June 2024, with a preliminary analysis showing many of those individuals cast ballots in subsequent elections.

Governor Mikie Sherrill disclosed the findings after learning of the problem last week. According to her account, noncitizens applying for driver’s licenses or identification cards correctly answered “no” on an electronic keypad when asked if they were U.S. citizens. Despite those responses, the system transmitted their information for voter registration anyway.

The error occurred during the administration of former Governor Phil Murphy. Sherrill, who took office later, ordered an independent investigation by the firm CSG Law and directed the immediate removal of the improper registrations from the state’s voter rolls. She also began the process of replacing the longtime vendor responsible for the system, IDEMIA.

“These individuals answered ‘no’ when asked on a keypad whether they were a U.S. citizen… but through no fault of their own, the system registered them anyway,” Sherrill said. She described the failure as “reckless” and criticized a lack of transparency by those previously in charge. Officials reported that the affected registrants were listed as Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters and were spread across the state. State authorities have stated they currently have no evidence that any election outcomes were altered.

The disclosure came days after President Donald Trump highlighted concerns about noncitizens on voter rolls in a national address, including estimates involving New Jersey. The state’s admission has intensified Republican calls for investigations, potential prosecutions of illegal voters, and suspension of automatic voter registration processes tied to the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a probe and requested detailed information on the 6,600 individuals, including names, dates of birth, nationalities, addresses, and voting records for those who cast ballots. Homeland Security officials have separately pointed to broader data matches suggesting higher numbers of potential noncitizen registrations in the state based on federal immigration records.

New Jersey’s automatic voter registration system, which links motor vehicle applications to the voter rolls, has long drawn scrutiny from election integrity advocates who argue it lacks sufficient citizenship verification. The state does not require documentary proof of citizenship at the point of registration, relying instead on self-attestation under penalty of law.

Sherrill has emphasized that the error predated her tenure and that her administration is addressing it transparently by removing the names, investigating the root cause, and seeking a new vendor. Republicans in the state legislature have demanded full public disclosure of the elections involved, the exact number of ballots cast, and stronger safeguards to prevent similar failures.

The episode underscores ongoing national debates over voter roll maintenance, citizenship verification, and the reliability of systems that automatically enroll applicants through motor vehicle agencies. With more than 6.6 million registered voters in New Jersey, the scale of the error represents a small fraction of the overall rolls, yet critics maintain that any illegal registrations or votes undermine confidence in election integrity. As the independent investigation proceeds and federal authorities continue their review, the focus remains on determining the full scope of the problem, ensuring accountability, and implementing reforms to block noncitizens from being added to the rolls in the future.