New Jersey Governor Addresses Voter Registration Error Involving Non-Citizens

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has reported a significant software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission that resulted in approximately 6,600 non-citizens being registered to vote. While most did not participate in elections, around 400 individuals are believed to have cast ballots. This issue has sparked a national debate on election security, with Sherrill pushing back against claims made by former President Trump regarding voter registration integrity. An independent investigation is underway to assess the situation and prevent future occurrences.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 22, 2026, 00:31 IST

Governor Sherrill Reports Software Glitch

On Tuesday, New Jersey's Governor Mikie Sherrill revealed that a software malfunction at the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) led to around 6,600 non-citizens being registered to vote from June 2023 to June 2024. The issue arose when applicants for driver's licenses or state IDs answered 'no' to the citizenship question but were still automatically registered through the voter system.

To address this, the state has engaged an independent firm to investigate the cause of the error and assess the need for additional protective measures. Officials noted that while most of those incorrectly registered did not participate in voting, approximately 400 individuals are thought to have cast their votes. 'Currently, we have no evidence that any elections were influenced,' Sherrill stated during a press briefing.

Sherrill became aware of the situation on July 15 and received a letter from the Trump administration suggesting that up to 35,000 individuals might have been wrongly registered in New Jersey. She mentioned that state officials have requested proof of this larger claim from the administration, stating, 'We’ve asked them for any evidence of this, where they got that number, who this is. We’ve received nothing back yet.'

This revelation is expected to heighten the ongoing national discussion regarding election security and voter registration processes. Former President Donald Trump has consistently claimed that states are failing to adequately prevent improper voter registrations and illegal voting.

In response, Sherrill criticized Trump, asserting that he has significantly undermined public confidence in elections. 'I believe that Donald Trump has done more to undermine free elections in this country than anyone else in my lifetime,' she remarked.

New Jersey election officials are currently reviewing the registrations in question and are working to eliminate ineligible voters from the rolls as necessary. The independent investigation will focus on the software system, administrative practices, and whether similar issues occurred outside the identified timeframe. This incident has emerged as one of the most notable election administration challenges disclosed by New Jersey in recent years, although state officials assert that there is no evidence suggesting the error affected any election outcomes.