Governor Mikie Sherrill revealed Monday that a software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) system improperly registered approximately 6,600 individuals who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens for voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024. Sherrill said the individuals answered “no” when asked about U.S. citizenship during applications for driver’s licenses or identification cards, but the system erroneously registered them anyway. The issue occurred under the previous administration, nearly three years before she took office in January 2026. “I immediately ordered my chief counsel to launch an investigation to get to the bottom of what occurred,” Sherrill said. “I also ordered the removal of any residents from our voter rolls who were erroneously added between June 2023 and June 2024.” The Governor noted that her newly appointed MVC Administrator has begun replacing the vendor responsible for the system. A preliminary analysis found that fewer than 400 of those erroneously registered individuals actually voted. Those ballots were cast by people registered as Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated voters, spread across the state.
Sherrill, a military veteran and former federal prosecutor, emphasized the seriousness of the matter and her commitment to election integrity. “As a military veteran who swore an oath to defend our Constitution, and as a former federal prosecutor, I believe the integrity of our elections is fundamental to our democracy,” she stated. “I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen and the lack of transparency shown by those in charge at the time. This failure didn’t occur under my watch, but accountability starts now.” The governor pledged to hold those responsible accountable and implement safeguards to prevent future issues. She contrasted her administration’s response with broader federal pressures from the Trump administration, which has aggressively sought detailed voter data from states.
The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has demanded that New Jersey and dozens of other states turn over complete, unredacted statewide voter registration lists. These requests include personal information such as voters’ full addresses, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. New Jersey has refused the requests, prompting a federal lawsuit filed earlier this year. “As the Trump Administration tries to weaponize elections for political gain, I am ensuring we protect our elections,” Sherrill said in her statement. “Let me be clear: Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of election integrity.” She accused the former president of spreading lies about election results, attempting to overturn the 2020 election, and other actions.
Sherrill concluded by reassuring New Jerseyans: “New Jerseyans should have confidence that every eligible citizen can vote, every lawful vote will be counted, and every reasonable step will be taken to protect the integrity of our elections. That’s my responsibility, and it’s one I will never stop fighting to uphold.” State officials confirmed that all erroneous registrations have been removed from the voter rolls. The incident has drawn comparisons to similar DMV-related registration errors reported in other states, including Oregon. The Governor’s office said the full investigation results would be released once completed.
