Key facts
- An error resulted in 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote in New Jersey from 2023-2024.
- Around 400 noncitizens cast votes in New Jersey elections.
- Governor Phil Murphy claims he was unaware of the registration error.
- Representative Mikie Sherrill has placed blame on the vendor and the Murphy administration.
- The Department of Justice is seeking the identities of registered noncitizens.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated he was unaware of an error that led to thousands of noncitizens being registered to vote, with hundreds casting ballots in state elections. Representative Mikie Sherrill announced this week that 6,600 noncitizens were registered between 2023 and 2024, and approximately 400 of them voted. Sherrill attributed the issue to a software error at the state Motor Vehicles Commission, though the contractor involved disputes the existence of such an error. The situation has become a political flashpoint between the two New Jersey Democrats. Republicans, including Representative Jeff Van Drew, are demanding answers and have indicated the possibility of a congressional hearing. The Department of Justice has also requested the identities of the registered noncitizens, warning of potential prosecutions and deportations, a move Sherrill indicated the state would oppose. While the number of noncitizens registered is small relative to New Jersey's 6.7 million voters, the scale of the error is considered rare. Sherrill stated there is no evidence to suggest that the votes cast by noncitizens influenced any election outcomes.