Full Breakdown
New Jersey Voter Registration Glitch Raises Federal Scrutiny
7/27/2026, 12:14:19 AM
Core Event: Software Error Adds Thousands of Noncitizens to Voter Rolls
Governor Mikie Sherrill said a software malfunction at the Motor Vehicle Commission mistakenly placed about 6,600 non-citizens on the voter registration list, with ?400 of them casting ballots. The error occurred before her tenure; the state is reviewing how it happened. Vendor IDEMIA says final eligibility verification rests with the Division of Elections.
Background & Context
The system was installed under former Governor Phil Murphy. The glitch operated between 2023 and 2024, adding people who answered “no” to a citizenship question on a driver-license application to the rolls. New Jersey has previously been noted for “dead people” on its rolls, heightening attention to this incident.
Data & Statistics
- 6,600 non-citizens registered (Sherrill’s estimate).
- ?400 ballots cast by those registrants.
- New Jersey’s total voter registration is about 6.7 million; the erroneous entries are roughly 0.1 % of the electorate.
- No evidence shows the 400 votes changed any election outcome.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sherrill called it a “serious software error,” ordered an internal investigation, and refused to give the DOJ the registrants’ names, calling the request a political weaponization of the Justice Department.
- IDEMIA stated that “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.”
- The Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division) demanded identities, dates of birth, nationalities and addresses of all 6,600 individuals, warning that non-citizen voting “is illegal.”
- Former Governor Murphy’s spokesperson, Mahen Gunaratna, said Murphy had no knowledge of the glitch.
- Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) set a Aug. 21 deadline for Sherrill’s response, hinting at a congressional hearing.
- An independent law firm, CSG, is reviewing the Motor Vehicle Commission’s processes.
Criticism & Opposition
President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin cited a DHS estimate of 35,152 non-citizens on New Jersey rolls—figures not substantiated. Fact-checkers rated the higher claim “mostly false.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Trump/Mullin’s DHS figure (35,152) contrasts with Sherrill’s 6,600.
- The DOJ’s request remains unanswered; Sherrill’s office has not confirmed compliance.
- No independent audit has been released, leaving the precise mechanism of the error unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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
- “It is not a surprise to me ... that the Trump administration wants to immediately weaponize this against people as opposed to focusing on making sure we're running free and fair elections,” — Gov. Mikie Sherrill
What’s Next
- The DOJ has given New Jersey five business days to supply the requested voter-roll details.
- Rep. Van Drew’s inquiry is due by Aug. 21, after which a hearing could be scheduled.
- CSG’s independent review is ongoing; its findings may shape state-level legislative or regulatory actions.
The dispute highlights tension between federal election-integrity efforts and state administrative errors, while the impact on New Jersey’s electoral outcomes remains unproven.
