CNN and SiriusXM host Michael Smerconish stated he can no longer categorically claim that noncitizen voting "never happens" following a disclosure from New Jersey. The state reported that a software error by vendor IDEMIA improperly registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens, and fewer than 400 of them cast ballots.
Smerconish's revised position comes after he previously cited a New York Times analysis that found no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting. He acknowledged that the New Jersey incident would likely be used by former President Donald Trump and his allies to counter arguments that such occurrences are nonexistent.
Political analyst Mark Halperin called for an independent investigation into the New Jersey incident, emphasizing the need to understand how the registrations occurred and whether similar issues have appeared elsewhere. While acknowledging the disclosure, Halperin cautioned that the scale of the error requires further investigation before broader conclusions can be drawn.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated the error affected individuals who indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for driver's licenses or identification cards between June 2023 and June 2024. The system subsequently registered them to vote. Sherrill has ordered the affected registrations removed, launched an investigation, and initiated a replacement of the vendor, IDEMIA, attributing failures to the previous administration.
IDEMIA, however, disputed that sole responsibility lies with the company, stating that New Jersey election officials are responsible for verifying voter eligibility. The company noted that voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which holds ultimate responsibility for eligibility verification.
The Justice Department has demanded information regarding the 6,600 registrations and the fewer than 400 individuals who voted. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has given the state five days to provide names, registration details, and voting records, stating that preventing noncitizens from illegally diluting citizens' votes is of paramount importance.