New Jersey’s Democratic leadership is calling for accountability after a software error registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote through the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission system, with about 400 of them casting ballots between 2023 and 2024.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the error on July 21, stating it resulted from a “serious software error” at the Motor Vehicle Commission that began in June 2023 and went undetected for a year. The system automatically registered individuals as voters even after they indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for driver’s licenses or identification cards.
Sherrill, who took office in January and campaigned on government accountability, immediately launched an independent investigation and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. “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 said at a State House news conference. “This failure didn’t occur under my watch, but accountability starts now.”
Democratic legislative leaders echoed the accountability message. Senate President Nick Scutari said in a statement that “addressing these errors is part of” New Jersey’s commitment to equitable access to voting and promised the legislature would “use our authority to empower every eligible voter while strengthening oversight across the systems that give voice to our communities.” Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin stated that “New Jerseyans deserve a thorough investigation that delivers accountability for those responsible” for the Motor Vehicle Commission issue.
The noncitizen voter registration error emerged as a significant issue after Sherrill’s predecessor, fellow Democrat Phil Murphy, initially said he had no knowledge of the software glitch. Sherrill sharply criticized Murphy for what she called a “lack of transparency.” The contractor Idemia, which operates New Jersey’s motor vehicle services, disputed responsibility, saying the Department of State’s Division of Elections was “ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote.”
Early Warnings Ignored
County election officials had flagged concerns about noncitizens registering through the Motor Vehicle Commission system as early as October 2024. At a public hearing before the Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design, Passaic County superintendent of elections Shona Mack-Pollock reported that people were coming into election offices apologizing after discovering they had been improperly registered. She noted that the Motor Vehicle Commission’s computer system asked about citizenship in English only, creating confusion for non-English speakers.
Monmouth County elections superintendent Christopher Siciliano told NJ Spotlight News he was aware of about 44 instances over three years when noncitizens registered to vote. “There’s a lot of ambient noise. People are coming in. They’re going up to a window, and if it’s someone for whom English is their second language, they’re trying to understand the clerk,” he said, explaining how the error could occur inadvertently.
Sherrill said she learned of the glitch on July 15 and immediately commissioned the Roseland-based CSG law firm to conduct an independent review. The state is removing those individuals from voter rolls and has updated the Motor Vehicle Commission’s electronic pads to include five languages to prevent future confusion. The state will not provide the Department of Justice with data on the noncitizens, citing concerns about federal misuse of personal information.
Sherrill said there was no evidence that any of the roughly 400 votes cast by noncitizens swayed the outcome of an election. The error represents a tiny fraction of New Jersey’s roughly 6.7 million registered voters. Despite the limited scope, the disclosure has become a focal point in the broader national debate over election security and voting access, with Republicans using it to push for stricter voter identification requirements.
Sources
- NJ Spotlight News — Gov. Sherrill’s announcement of the 6,600 noncitizens registered, the software error timeline, early warnings from county election officials, and Democratic legislative statements on accountability
- Politico — Details on Gov. Sherrill’s criticism of predecessor Phil Murphy and the independent investigation launched by CSG law firm
- Democracy Docket — Gov. Sherrill’s refusal to provide DOJ with noncitizen data and her statement on federal weaponization of voter information
- NBC News — Confirmation that approximately 400 noncitizens cast ballots and states reviewing their own registration systems
