New Jersey software error registers thousands of non-citizens to vote

A software glitch in New Jersey erroneously added approximately 6,600 non-citizens to the state's voter rolls over a year, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday. The error occurred between June 2023 and June 2024, even though these individuals indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for driver's licenses or ID cards.

While thousands were registered, a preliminary analysis indicates that fewer than 400 actually cast ballots. This group included voters from across the political spectrum: Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated individuals. Governor Sherrill has ordered the removal of these individuals from the voter rolls and plans to replace the vendor responsible for the error, which happened before she took office.

“

As President Trump has said, there is nothing more important than the integrity of our elections. And this latest incident underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act.

The disclosure has been seized upon by the White House, which is using the incident to bolster President Donald Trump's claims of widespread non-citizen voting. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that the New Jersey discovery "underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act," a bill that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Trump has been a vocal proponent of this legislation, warning that upcoming elections could be compromised without stricter safeguards.

Democrats and voting rights groups, however, have opposed the SAVE America Act, arguing it is designed to disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly minority and lower-income citizens who may lack the necessary documentation. They accuse Trump of using election integrity as a pretext to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections.

“

As the Trump Administration tries to weaponize elections for political gain, I am ensuring that we protect our elections.