TRENTON, N.J. – Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday provided an update on New Jersey’s response to an alleged software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission that improperly registered approximately 6,600 individuals to vote between June 2023 and June 2024. State officials said they have begun correcting the voter rolls while working to ensure eligible voters are not improperly removed.
The governor said the administration has contacted affected individuals, launched a public information website, and started the process of removing registrations linked exclusively to the error. Sherrill said the issue originated under the previous administration and pledged that the investigation and corrections would continue.
State outlines voter registration corrections
According to the governor, the MVC has mailed letters to everyone affected by the software issue. The administration also launched an information page at nj.gov/MVCsystemerror2023 with frequently asked questions, details about the voter registration review process, and available support resources.
The New Jersey Division of Elections has begun removing more than 4,500 registrations that officials determined resulted solely from the software error. Sherrill said the remaining registrations will be referred to county election officials for additional review before any action is taken.
“We are taking this extra step because our initial review indicates that a number of these individuals may be citizens,” Sherrill said. “Just as we have an obligation to remove everyone who is not eligible to vote, we also have a responsibility to protect the voting rights of eligible New Jersey citizens and ensure no one is improperly removed from the rolls.”
Governor criticizes political response
Sherrill said her administration disclosed the issue publicly last week and has moved to address it with what she described as accountability and transparency. She said the state intends to continue providing updates as the review progresses.
“As I said last week, this is what accountable government looks like,” Sherrill said. “We inherited a problem. We didn’t hide it. We didn’t deny it. We’re investigating it. And we’re going to fix it, the right way.”
The governor also criticized former President Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, accusing them of using the issue to promote voter suppression efforts and unfairly target individuals whose registrations resulted from the software error.
Under federal law, it is a crime for a non-citizen to vote in federal elections. Sherrill has confirmed 400 of those people did vote in elections, but at this time, it is not known which ones.
Sherrill did not announce any plans for criminal investigations into those who willfully and knowingly committed voter fraud.
What happens next
Election officials will continue reviewing the remaining registrations on a county-by-county basis to determine whether those individuals are lawfully eligible to vote before any additional removals occur. The administration said the review is intended to balance election integrity with protecting the voting rights of eligible New Jersey citizens.
The investigation remains ongoing, and state officials said additional public updates will be released as more information becomes available.
The alleged software error affects confidence in New Jersey’s voter registration system and has prompted state officials to review thousands of registrations. The outcome of the investigation will determine how the state addresses administrative election errors while ensuring that eligible voters are not mistakenly removed from the voter rolls.
