What happened

A software error in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission system automatically registered approximately 6,600 non-citizens as voters between June 2023 and June 2024. The individuals had indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for driver's licenses or state ID cards, but the system registered them anyway. Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, disclosed the error on Tuesday, calling it a "serious software error." She said the registrations were spread across the state and included Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters.

“These individuals answered 'no' when asked on a keypad whether they were a U.S. citizen when applying for drivers' licenses and identification cards, but through no fault of their own, the system registered them anyway.”

The numbers

Of the 6,600 people added to the voter rolls, fewer than 400 actually cast ballots, according to a preliminary analysis. Sherrill added there is "no evidence that the outcome of any election was affected." The error occurred during the tenure of former Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. Sherrill said the problem was not discovered and fixed until a year later, and she expressed dismay at the lack of transparency from those responsible at the time.

Registered6,600

Voted400

Registered

6600

Voted

400

Data from the article text

Political fallout

The announcement came four days after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin accused New Jersey and three other states of having more than 250,000 non-citizens on their voter rolls. Mullin demanded compliance with the administration's "SAVE program" or face consequences such as revoked federal funding, fines, or prison time. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly regarding the 2020 election, and last week revived those allegations in a televised address.

“I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen, and by the lack of transparency shown by those responsible at the time.”

Governor's response

Sherrill ordered the removal of the erroneously registered individuals from voter rolls and launched an investigation. She said the software vendor responsible would not be contracted again. She also pledged to protect those who inadvertently voted from prosecution. "When we find a problem, we don't hide it, we don't deny it, and we don't invent conspiracies," Sherrill said. "We investigate it, we fix it, and we inform the public." She stressed that the failure did not occur under her watch but that accountability starts now.

Election integrity

The error did not sway any election outcome. Democrat Kamala Harris won New Jersey in the 2024 presidential election by more than 250,000 votes, far exceeding the number of improperly registered voters. Still, the revelation is likely to fuel Republican narratives about voter fraud ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, where the GOP faces potential losses. Sherrill said New Jerseyans should have confidence that every eligible citizen can vote and every lawful vote will be counted.