Software Vendor Disputes New Jersey Governor’s ‘Glitch’ Claim in Noncitizen Voter Registration Scandal

The French technology firm IDEMIA is pushing back against New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s assertion that a software error was solely responsible for registering thousands of noncitizens to vote, placing the ultimate responsibility on state election officials.

Sherrill disclosed earlier this week that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were added to the state’s voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024. The individuals had answered “no” on an electronic keypad when asked if they were U.S. citizens while applying for driver’s licenses or identification cards at the Motor Vehicle Commission. Despite those responses, their information was transmitted for voter registration. A preliminary state analysis found that fewer than 400 of those individuals later cast ballots. The affected registrants were listed across party affiliations and spread throughout the state.

Sherrill, a Democrat who took office after the error period, described the episode as a “serious software error” in the Motor Vehicle system that occurred under the previous administration of Gov. Phil Murphy. She ordered an independent investigation, directed the removal of the improper registrations, and announced plans to replace the long-standing vendor.

IDEMIA, which has worked with New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission for more than 40 years on identity and voter registration processes, issued a statement rejecting the framing that the company was at fault for the eligibility failures. The firm said its role is limited to transmitting information through the motor vehicle system when applicants indicate interest in registering to vote during license or ID applications.

“The voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote,” IDEMIA stated. “Information submitted by IDEMIA must still be validated and adjudicated by the Division of Elections.”

The company’s response effectively shifts accountability to state officials who receive and process the transmitted data. Sherrill’s office, when asked for further comment, pointed back to the governor’s earlier remarks expressing disgust at the failures of the outgoing vendor and previous administration.

The revelation has intensified scrutiny of New Jersey’s automatic voter registration system, which links motor vehicle transactions to the voter rolls without requiring documentary proof of citizenship. Critics, including state Republican leaders, have long warned that the process lacks sufficient safeguards and have called for investigations, potential prosecutions of illegal voters, and suspension of the automatic system pending reforms.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights probe and demanded detailed records on the 6,600 individuals, including names, dates of birth, nationalities, addresses, and voting information for those who cast ballots. Federal officials have described the improper registrations as an unlawful dilution of American votes.

Sherrill has maintained that the state has no evidence the ballots affected any election outcomes and emphasized that her administration is addressing the issue transparently by removing the names and seeking a new vendor. The software defect was reportedly corrected in mid-2024, though the problem remained undisclosed until recently.

The dispute between the state and its longtime technology partner underscores broader questions about accountability in election systems that rely on automatic data transfers. As the independent investigation continues and federal authorities press for more information, the focus remains on how noncitizens who explicitly indicated they were ineligible still ended up on the rolls — and who bears responsibility for failing to catch the errors.