A software malfunction in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote between 2023 and 2024, with roughly 400 casting ballots before the error was discovered, Governor Mikie Sherrill revealed Tuesday.

System Ignored Citizenship Status

The error occurred when noncitizens applying for driver’s licenses and identification cards answered ‘no’ on a keypad when asked if they were United States citizens. Despite their responses, the Motor Vehicle System automatically registered them to vote anyway. The malfunction ran from June 2023 through June 2024, affecting registrants across party lines. Sherrill said the individuals were registered as Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters scattered throughout the state.

The Democratic governor emphasized the noncitizens bore no responsibility for the registration error and are now being removed from voter rolls. Sherrill stated there is no evidence any elections were swayed by the improper votes, though officials cannot determine which specific elections the roughly 400 individuals participated in. The scale of New Jersey’s error significantly exceeds recent similar incidents in other states.

Federal Pressure and Political Fallout

The revelation follows a letter from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleging 35,000 noncitizens were registered in New Jersey. Sherrill said her office learned of the actual 6,600-person error last Wednesday and has requested evidence supporting Mullin’s higher claim but received no response. The Department of Homeland Security gave the state two weeks to confirm cooperation on election integrity measures.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson called the incident proof of the necessity for the SAVE America Act, which would require new photo identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. President Donald Trump has used primetime addresses to push Congress toward passing the legislation. Sherrill countered that Trump has zero credibility on election integrity and accused his administration of weaponizing elections for political gain.

Blame and Accountability Questions

Sherrill, who took office in January, placed responsibility on the previous administration of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. She called it unacceptable that no one in Murphy’s tenure brought the issue to light or demanded accountability when it happened. Murphy has not yet responded to requests for comment. Election experts note such errors occur rarely but do happen, affecting thousands among nearly 300 million registrants nationwide. Oregon discovered 1,200 mistaken noncitizen registrations in 2024, with nine having voted, while California reported 1,500 accidental registrations in 2018.