TRENTON, N.J. – Motor Vehicle Commission operations became a flashpoint in the governor’s race as Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill clashed over whether in-person services should return to pre-pandemic levels.
Many of the state’s MVC employees are tele-commuting, working from home since COVID-19 shut down centers statewide.
They are still working from home, and the service quality of the MVC has gone from bad to worse since.
Ciattarelli said that if elected, MVC workers will be back in customer service centers full-time, ending the heavy reliance on online scheduling and long appointment backlogs.
He pointed to Florida as an example, where residents can walk in without an appointment and leave the same day with a Real ID. By contrast, he said, New Jerseyans are forced to book appointments months in advance.
“The MVC should get back to work in the office, and I’ll make sure service levels increase,” Ciattarelli told voters.
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Sherrill, however, suggested the current hybrid system is functioning, with most services now offered online. She said residents should not need to make unnecessary trips to MVC offices to obtain IDs or handle routine transactions. At the same time, she acknowledged that improvements are still needed to ease wait times and streamline the system.
The exchange highlighted a fundamental difference in approach: Ciattarelli pushing for a full-scale return to in-person service, and Sherrill leaning toward refining the digital-first model.
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli pledged to return MVC workers to in-person offices and eliminate months-long waits.
- Mikie Sherrill defended the expanded online system but admitted improvements are needed.
- The debate reflects contrasting visions of how New Jersey residents should access motor vehicle services.