The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a five-day deadline for New Jersey to submit voter registration data, escalating its investigation into the registration of thousands of noncitizens. The demand comes after New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill publicly acknowledged that around 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly added to the state's voter rolls, and an estimated 400 of them cast ballots in state elections.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, in a letter to Governor Sherrill, stated the DOJ's requirement for information including names, personal details, registration dates, and precincts of the 6,600 individuals, as well as the methods and timing of the 400 ballots cast. The letter was framed as a legal preservation-of-records request, pertinent to ongoing litigation.
The DOJ is currently involved in a lawsuit against New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, seeking access to the state's electronic voter registration database. Dhillon indicated that the judge in that case would be notified of this new development. The department is also seeking similar voter registration lists from New York and Pennsylvania.
"Ensuring that U.S. citizens' votes are not illegally diluted by noncitizens' votes is of paramount importance," Dhillon wrote, emphasizing the need to assess New Jersey's compliance with federal statutes like the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has previously warned that as many as 35,000 noncitizens may still be registered to vote in New Jersey. The state's Division of Elections is tasked with verifying the eligibility of all registered voters.
The technology contractor responsible for processing information for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, IDEMIA, stated that its role is to transmit eligible individuals' information for voter registration. The company maintains that the Department of State, led by Caldwell, and the Division of Elections are ultimately responsible for verifying voter eligibility. IDEMIA noted that information it transmits must still be validated by the Division of Elections.
Governor Sherrill's spokesperson, Sean Higgins, criticized the DOJ, alleging a pattern of "weaponizing" the agency for political purposes and attempting to overturn election results, particularly under the Trump administration. Higgins stated that Governor Sherrill is committed to protecting New Jerseyans' personal information and expressed the governor's "disgust" with the vendor and the former governor's administration.
State Senator Kristin Corrado, a Republican, asserted that she had repeatedly raised concerns about voter roll integrity with Democrats since 2019, warning of the need for stronger safeguards. Corrado stated she sent multiple letters and introduced legislation to prevent non-citizens from being prompted to register, but claimed these warnings were ignored. She expressed dismay at the "catastrophic government failure" that allowed thousands of noncitizens to be registered. She also noted that the governor's public acknowledgment of the issue has led to others expressing surprise.
The DOJ's actions in New Jersey come as it pursues stronger national election integrity measures, encountering resistance from some states regarding information sharing.