New Jersey replaces vendor after noncitizen ballot incident
New Jersey replaced its voter registration vendor after discovering a software error enabled noncitizen voting.
Event / Politics
US Election Integrity Issues
Ongoing issues and incidents affecting voter registration accuracy and election administration, including software errors, verification disputes, and disclosure procedures.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Jul, 01:15 UTC
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What happened
Software error registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey
Between June 2023 and June 2024, a software error in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission system resulted in approximately 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens being registered to vote. These individuals answered "no" when asked whether they were U.S. citizens while applying for driver's licenses or identification cards, but were placed on voter rolls due to the software malfunction.
Approximately 400 noncitizens cast ballots in New Jersey elections
Preliminary analysis found that fewer than 400 individuals who were erroneously registered to vote due to the software error actually voted. These voters were registered across both major parties and unaffiliated status, distributed throughout New Jersey.
New Jersey Governor Sherrill orders removal of erroneous voter registrations
Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered election officials to remove all residents who were erroneously added to voter rolls during the period affected by the software error. The governor also directed her chief counsel to investigate how the error occurred and announced that the Motor Vehicle Commission would replace the vendor responsible for the system.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission replaces software vendor Idemia
Governor Sherrill announced that the Motor Vehicle Commission has begun replacing Idemia, the vendor responsible for administering the system that contained the software error causing noncitizens to be registered to vote.
Software error was discovered and fixed in June 2024 but not disclosed
The Motor Vehicle Commission software error was identified and corrected in June 2024 during the administration of Governor Phil Murphy, but the issue was never publicly disclosed until Governor Sherrill's announcement in 2025.
Governor Sherrill orders removal of noncitizen voter registrations
Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered the removal of all erroneously added voter registrations from June 2023 to June 2024 from New Jersey's voter rolls. She also ordered an investigation into how the error occurred and announced plans to replace the vendor who operated the system.
Fewer than 400 noncitizens who were erroneously registered actually voted
A preliminary analysis showed that fewer than 400 of the 6,600 noncitizens who were erroneously registered to vote in New Jersey actually cast ballots. These voters were registered as Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated across all parts of the state.
New Jersey identified software error that registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote
Between June 2023 and June 2024, a Motor Vehicle Commission software flaw automatically registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey. The individuals had answered 'no' when asked if they were U.S. citizens while applying for driver's licenses and identification cards, but the system registered them to vote anyway.
Governor Sherrill discovered voter registration error and ordered corrective action
New Jersey Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill discovered the software error in the Motor Vehicle Commission system last week and immediately ordered her chief counsel to launch an investigation. She ordered the removal of all erroneously registered voters and replaced the vendor responsible for administering the system.
Software error registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey
Between June 2023 and June 2024, a serious software error in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission system registered approximately 6,600 people to vote despite them answering 'no' when asked if they were U.S. citizens during driver's license or identification card applications. These individuals were registered through no fault of their own due to the system malfunction.
Error occurred under previous administration of Gov. Phil Murphy
The software error and resulting noncitizen registrations occurred between June 2023 and June 2024 under the administration of former Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. Governor Sherrill blamed the previous administration for not detecting and correcting the error.
Fewer than 400 noncitizens voted in New Jersey elections
Preliminary analysis found that fewer than 400 of the 6,600 erroneously registered noncitizens actually voted in previous elections. These voters were registered as Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters and were scattered across the state.
IDEMIA vendor responsible for noncitizen voter registration system
French security company IDEMIA was identified as the vendor responsible for administering the Motor Vehicle Commission's voter registration system that contained the software error registering noncitizens to vote.
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2 alternative perspectives
New Jersey removes 6,600 noncitizen voter registrations following software error
New Jersey removed 6,600 erroneous noncitizen registrations; fewer than 400 actually voted.
Software error registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey
Software error registered 6,600 noncitizens in New Jersey; fewer than 400 voted.