- The Trump DOJ has requested records regarding 6,600 noncitizens who were erroneously registered to vote in New Jersey due to a MVC software error that affected applications for driver’s licenses between June 2023 and June 2024.
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill has ordered an investigation into the matter and the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls, criticizing former Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration for not acting sooner.
- Sherrill described the situation as “unacceptable” and stated that the state would not charge the approximately 400 voters who cast ballots due to the commission’s mistake.
- Dhillon informed the U.S. District Court that the disclosure provided an additional basis to obtain voter rolls, emphasizing that “Ensuring that U.S. citizens’ votes are not illegally diluted by noncitizens’ votes is of paramount importance.”
- Republicans have leveraged the announcement to advocate for voter ID laws, including the Trump-backed SAVE America Act, asserting that “Voter ID is not a conspiracy theory.”
- Sherrill criticized Donald Trump, stating he has “zero credibility on the issue of election integrity” and that “His only concern is himself.”
The Trump administration's Department of Justice has demanded New Jersey provide detailed records of 6,600 noncitizens mistakenly registered to vote due to a software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).1
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon requested names, nationalities, and registration details within five days following Governor Mikie Sherrill's announcement of the issue on July 21.4
The MVC error allowed noncitizens applying for driver’s licenses between June 2023 and June 2024 to be enrolled, with approximately 400 individuals casting ballots before the error was corrected in June 2024.
Sherrill emphasized that the residents did not intend to register, having answered “no” to citizenship questions, yet the system enrolled them anyway.
“Let me be clear: This entire situation is unacceptable,” Sherrill stated, criticizing the previous administration for not addressing the issue sooner.
The state will not charge the 400 voters, attributing the mistake to the MVC.3
Dhillon noted that the DOJ informed the U.S. District Court about the situation, which could bolster the Civil Rights Division's efforts to obtain New Jersey's voter rolls.
“Ensuring that U.S. citizens’ votes are not illegally diluted by noncitizens’ votes is of paramount importance,” Dhillon asserted.
In response, state Republicans have advocated for stricter voter ID laws, claiming that such measures could prevent similar errors in the future.5
Sherrill countered, stating, “Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of election integrity.”6
“The MVC software error enrolled noncitizens between June 2023 and June 2024; about 400 later cast ballots. Gov. Mikie Sherrill ordered an investigation and said the state would not charge those voters because the mistake was the commission's fault.”
The Jersey Vindicator
