Approximately 6,600 individuals who indicated they were not U.S. citizens when obtaining New Jersey driver's licenses and state IDs were mistakenly registered to vote in 2023 and 2024 due to a Motor Vehicle Commission system software error, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday.
Sherrill, who took office this year, stated that a preliminary analysis suggests fewer than 400 of those improperly registered voters cast ballots. She has ordered the removal of these erroneous voter registrations from the 2023-24 period and is replacing the vendor responsible for the system. An investigation into the cause of the error has also been launched.
"I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen and the lack of transparency shown by those in charge at the time," Sherrill said in a statement. Phil Murphy, the previous governor, was in office during the time the error occurred. The Associated Press has sought comment from Murphy or his representatives.
New Jersey is one of several states that permit noncitizens to hold driver's licenses and other state-issued identification cards. The revelation emerges amid ongoing assertions by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans regarding widespread noncitizen voting in U.S. elections, despite such occurrences being rare and punishable by felony charges and potential deportation when detected.