Software glitch at New Jersey DMV registers thousands of non-citizens, fewer than 400 vote

A programming error in the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles' registration system resulted in roughly 6,600 non-U.S. citizens being added to the state's voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024. The individuals had indicated on a keypad that they were not citizens, but the system recorded them as eligible voters anyway. Preliminary analysis shows that fewer than 400 of those mistakenly registered actually voted, representing a mix of Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated voters across the state.

Governor Mikie Sherrill, who took office after the error occurred, said the mistake was discovered during a review of registration data. She added that the state is working to correct the records and prevent similar issues in the future.

The incident has been cited by some lawmakers as evidence supporting stricter voter-ID and proof-of-citizenship legislation being considered at the federal level. The Department of Homeland Security has encouraged states to use an expanded national database to verify voter eligibility, though prior investigations have raised concerns that the system could incorrectly flag eligible citizens.

Republican officials have used the incident to argue for the passage of the SAVE America Act, which would establish nationwide voting standards. The governor emphasized that the state is addressing the problem transparently and without concealment.