Gov. Mikie Sherrill says a software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System led to roughly 6,600 noncitizen voter registrations between June 2023 and June 2024, and that about 400 of those newly registered people cast ballots. Those figures are preliminary and were released by the governor’s office; they have not been independently certified by the Division of Elections as of publication.
Noncitizen voter registration: state and vendor accounts
The governor’s office provided the totals and described the issue as a “serious software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System.”
IDEMIA, the contractor named in public statements, pushed back in its own media statement. The company said it transmits applicant responses from driver’s license and ID transactions but that the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections “ultimately is responsible for validating and adjudicating eligibility to vote,” and that transmission alone does not determine final registrations.
Both sides have characterized their roles differently in public comments. The state says the error originated in the Motor Vehicle System and produced automated entries. IDEMIA says its role is limited to transporting applicant-provided responses and that submission records must be validated by the Division of Elections before an active registration is created.
How the Motor Vehicle System feeds voter rolls
Under New Jersey’s process, people can indicate an interest in registering to vote when they apply for or renew a driver’s license or ID.
IDEMIA’s software is used to capture and transmit those application responses to state systems. The Division of Elections then reviews submissions and applies eligibility rules before a registration is finalized on the statewide rolls.
The public dispute centers on whether a software glitch caused ineligible responses to be uploaded automatically, or whether follow-up validation steps failed after data transmission. Each side has blamed the other for the breakdown.
Who may have voted and the scope of the problem
The governor’s preliminary review reports that about 400 people who were newly registered because of the error went on to cast ballots. The governor’s office said the newly registered voters included Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters, dispersed across the state.
These counts are described by the governor’s office as preliminary findings. Independent confirmation of the totals and of which ballots, if any, were affected will depend on the Division of Elections’ review and any audits the state completes.
Official response and next steps in New Jersey
Gov. Sherrill ordered her administration’s attorney to review the registrations and to remove any names the state determines were improperly added to the rolls.
The state also announced it will end its working relationship with the vendor responsible for the motor vehicle system services, according to state statements and the vendor’s public reply.
State officials say they will notify local election offices about corrections and pursue administrative or legal options as necessary. The Division of Elections remains responsible for validating registrations and updating official records.
Background and what comes next
New Jersey uses a centralized motor vehicle-to-voter-registration process common in many states. Vendors provide software that captures applicants’ responses and forwards them to election officials.
When problems arise, states typically audit the flow of records, reconcile application logs against finalized registrations, and, if errors are found, remove improper entries and notify affected local boards of election.
In this case, the state review and the vendor’s documentation will form the basis of any corrective steps. Independent audits or the Division of Elections’ formal report would provide outside verification of the scope and impact.
Why this matters for voter rolls and election confidence
Accurate voter rolls are essential to public confidence in elections. Errors that add ineligible names can raise policy questions about verification, vendor oversight, and the checks applied before a registration is made active.
Officials and advocates on different sides are citing the incident to argue for stronger verification steps at registration and closer oversight of vendor systems. Any policy changes would likely focus on validation procedures and audit trails between motor vehicle systems and election records.
Key takeaways and actions
• The 6,600 and 400 figures come from the governor’s office and are labeled preliminary by state officials.
• IDEMIA says it transmits applicant responses and that final validation is the Division of Elections’ responsibility.
• The state has ordered a review, will remove registrations it deems improper, and has announced a split with the vendor for motor vehicle services.
Independent verification of the total number affected and any voting impact awaits the Division of Elections’ audit or formal report and any public release of transmission logs and adjudication records.
FAQ
Were noncitizens able to cast ballots in New Jersey?
Gov. Sherrill’s preliminary analysis reports about 400 newly registered people cast ballots. Those figures are from the governor’s office and are part of an ongoing review; independent confirmation is pending.
Who is responsible for verifying voter eligibility?
IDEMIA says it transmits applicant data. The New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections is responsible for validating and adjudicating eligibility before records are finalized on the rolls.
What will New Jersey do to correct the voter rolls?
The governor ordered a legal review and directed removal of any registrations the state deems improper. The state has also announced it will stop working with the vendor for motor vehicle system services while the matter is reviewed.
Sources
This article is based on statements from Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s office and a public statement from the vendor IDEMIA, and on contemporaneous media reporting. For original coverage and the vendor and state statements cited in reporting, see: Fox News: New Jersey Dem gov’s blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state.
As of publication, the New Jersey Division of Elections had not released an independent, line-by-line count publicly verifying the governor’s totals; any such release will provide further confirmation of the scope and voting impact.
