New Jersey officials announced the removal of 6,600 noncitizens from state voter rolls after a software error in the Motor Vehicle Commission system improperly registered them. The mistake was discovered before the 2024 general election, with fewer than 400 individuals casting ballots despite their ineligibility, according to Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The error occurred when noncitizens answered “no” to a citizenship question but were still assigned voter registration and, in some cases, party affiliations. Sherrill described the issue as a “serious software error” and confirmed the affected individuals were distributed across the state with no clear geographic or partisan pattern. The state has not provided details on how the error occurred or why party affiliations were assigned.
Officials emphasized that the error was corrected before the election and that no evidence suggests the mistake was intentional. The New Jersey Secretary of State’s office stated that the state’s voter registration system is being reviewed to prevent similar issues in the future. The state Attorney General’s office and local election boards were notified, though no further enforcement actions have been announced.
Voter registration systems and noncitizen participation
The incident adds to a decades-long pattern of noncitizens being found on voter rolls, though the frequency and scale vary by state. A 2023 review by the conservative Honest Elections Project identified multiple states that found noncitizens on their rolls in recent years, describing the issue as a “major vulnerability.” However, experts note that without a national standard for identifying and reporting such errors, the true scope remains unclear.
New Jersey’s preliminary findings indicate that the improperly registered individuals were mostly unaffiliated, with some registered as Democrats or Republicans. Sherrill did not comment on whether the error disproportionately affected one party. The state has not released data on how many of the 400 voters who cast ballots are currently pursuing citizenship, though officials warned that illegal voting can complicate naturalization processes.
Policy responses and ongoing debates
The error has reignited discussions about election integrity and the security of voter registration systems. Some advocates argue for federal legislation, such as the SAVE America Act, to strengthen verification processes, while others contend that the error was caught in time and demonstrates existing safeguards are sufficient. No federal action has been taken in response to the New Jersey incident.
New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission has not disclosed whether additional safeguards will be implemented beyond the current correction. The state’s Division of Elections confirmed that the affected individuals have been removed from active voter rolls and that their ballots, if cast, will not count toward future elections. Sherrill stated that the error was an “unintentional technical failure” and that no further penalties are being considered for those mistakenly registered.