The White House is highlighting an issue in New Jersey where thousands of non-citizens were added to the state's voter rolls as a key argument for passing the Save America Act, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing election integrity. The bill mandates that states purge non-citizens from voter rolls and requires proof of citizenship during voter registration and photo identification at polling places.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that the incident in New Jersey proves that non-citizens can be added to voter rolls, countering previous claims that such an occurrence is impossible. "As President Trump has said, there is nothing more important than the integrity of our elections," Jackson said. "And this latest incident underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act. American voters deserve to have confidence that our elections are safe and secure – President Trump will never stop fighting to make that happen and all patriotic Americans should join in his effort."
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin noted that New Jersey could have as many as 35,152 potential non-citizens registered to vote, emphasizing that even one illegal vote can nullify a citizen's vote. He indicated that four states have thousands of non-citizens on their voting rolls.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, attributed the New Jersey issue to a software error at the state's Motor Vehicle Commission. Between June 2023 and June 2024, approximately 6,600 non-citizens were automatically registered to vote. The error occurred when individuals selecting "no" to citizenship questions on driver's license or ID card applications were still registered to vote. Sherrill reported that about 400 people had illegally voted, with these voters registered across various party affiliations and spread throughout the state. She added that there is currently no evidence that these illegal votes swayed any election outcomes.
However, the notes indicate that several local elections in New Jersey have been decided by margins less than 400 votes. Examples include a 2023 Republican primary in Assembly District 31 with a four-vote difference, a 2024 Camden County council election with a seven-vote difference, and a 2025 Newark Public Schools election with a four-vote difference. These close contests highlight how a small number of votes can be decisive.
The Save America Act, as proposed, includes additional provisions beyond voter ID requirements, such as banning most mail-in voting, prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports, and restricting medical treatments for minors. A version of the legislation has passed the House of Representatives but currently requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate.