TRENTON, N.J. — Six months after we reported that former Gov. Phil Murphy defended New Jersey’s expansion of mail-in voting by saying residents had “a higher probability of being hit by lightning” than uncovering voter fraud, his successor has disclosed that approximately 400 non-U.S. citizens cast ballots after being mistakenly registered to vote through a state administrative error.
In January, Governor Phil Murphy defended New Jersey’s decision not to adopt a voter ID law, saying the state’s election system is already secure and that instances of voter fraud are “significantly less likely” than being struck by lightning.
In remarks made during a social media Q&A segment, Murphy responded to a question asking why New Jersey does not require identification at the polls, despite voters needing ID to register. The governor said the state’s current safeguards are sufficient and that additional ID requirements would address a problem that data shows is virtually nonexistent.
“We don’t think we need it,” Murphy said. “There are some out there who believe the country or the state is rampant with voter fraud, and the chances are meaningfully higher that either you or I will be hit by lightning than that we’ll find voter fraud. It’s a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Murphy emphasized that New Jersey election officials actively monitor any irregularities and conduct thorough investigations when concerns arise. He said such reviews may involve the Secretary of State, local clerks, and, when necessary, the state Attorney General’s Office.
“Our system has proven to be about as airtight as any voting system can be,” Murphy added. “And God willing, it will continue to stay that way.”
Gov. Mikie Sherrill acknowledged earlier this week that approximately 6,600 non-U.S. citizens were mistakenly registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. State officials said fewer than 400 of those individuals ultimately voted before the registrations were identified.
The disclosure has prompted a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, with federal officials seeking records related to the registrations and ballots cast.
Murphy defended mail-in voting in 2020
Murphy made the widely cited lightning comparison during an August 2020 appearance on CNN while announcing New Jersey would mail ballots to every registered voter for the presidential election amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defending the state’s hybrid mail-in voting system, Murphy said instances of voter fraud were exceedingly rare.
“Overwhelmingly, this was very successful. You can never say you bat 1,000, but I’m pretty sure we have a higher probability of being hit by lightning than we do uncovering voter fraud,” Murphy said.
At the time, Murphy said New Jersey would continue mailing ballots to registered voters while maintaining in-person voting locations across the state.
This week, a Murphy spokesperson said the former governor had no idea illegal aliens were voting in New Jersey elections during his term in office.
“Prior to Tuesday, Governor Murphy had no knowledge of any software glitch at the Motor Vehicle Commission that resulted in non-citizens being inadvertently added to New Jersey’s voter rolls,” Mahen Gunaratna, a spokesperson for the governor said. “He applauds Governor Sherrill for initiating a review and looks forward to the findings.”
Sherrill attributes registrations to MVC error
Sherrill has said the mistaken registrations occurred before she took office and blamed a software-related failure within the Motor Vehicle Commission’s voter registration system.
According to the governor, applicants correctly indicated they were not U.S. citizens but were nonetheless automatically registered to vote.
The administration says the affected registrations are being removed and that New Jersey has launched an internal investigation.
Software vendor disputes state’s explanation
The state’s former software vendor, IDEMIA, has challenged Sherrill’s account of what happened.
The company has said its software accurately captured applicants’ responses regarding citizenship status and argued that responsibility for verifying voter eligibility ultimately rests with New Jersey election officials before individuals are added to the voter rolls.
That dispute has become a central issue in the DOJ investigation as federal officials seek documentation explaining how thousands of noncitizens were registered despite indicating they were not eligible to vote.
DOJ requests records
The Department of Justice has requested information on the approximately 6,600 individuals who were mistakenly registered, including records relating to the roughly 400 who cast ballots.
Sherrill has said she will not immediately provide the names and addresses requested by the DOJ, arguing the Trump administration is attempting to “weaponize” the issue rather than focus on election administration.
The DOJ has responded by stating that federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
President Donald Trump’s administration has indicated it will continue pursuing information as part of its election integrity investigation. Publicly, the DOJ has requested records related to the known registrations and ballots; whether the number of affected registrations or ballots will increase remains to be determined by the ongoing investigation.
Why it matters
The newly disclosed voter registration error has renewed attention on New Jersey’s election systems and revived debate over Murphy’s 2020 comments regarding voter fraud.
State officials maintain there is currently no evidence the mistaken registrations affected the outcome of any election. At the same time, the DOJ’s investigation continues as federal authorities seek additional records to determine how the error occurred, whether other ineligible registrations exist, and whether further action is warranted.
