Approximately 400 noncitizens cast ballots in New Jersey elections between June 2023 and June 2024 due to a software error, state officials announced. The glitch occurred after the system registered individuals as eligible to vote despite them indicating they were not U.S. citizens on applications for state identification or driver's licenses.
Governor Mikie Sherrill stated that there is no current evidence to suggest that these votes influenced election outcomes. However, the state is investigating the extent of the issue. The governor also criticized former President Donald Trump, asserting that he has done more to undermine free elections than anyone else in her lifetime.
This incident comes as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which aims to enhance election security, faces opposition from Democrats. Trump had previously highlighted concerns about noncitizen voting, citing a larger number of noncitizen registered voters in New Jersey.
The report indicates that New Jersey's voter registration system prioritizes broad inclusion, which may inadvertently create vulnerabilities. The extent to which noncitizens might be erroneously registered on voter rolls in other states remains a subject of debate, with some critics suggesting that states less focused on security checks could face similar issues.