New Jersey noncitizen voter registration error prompts Dem demands
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Democratic lawmakers told Fox News Digital they agree that New Jersey’s voter registration error requires accountability, but that it doesn’t justify claims of widespread election fraud.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday said a “serious software bug” led to approximately 6,600 noncitizens being mistakenly registered through the state’s Motor Vehicle System, while the company that provides ID-related security services denied any wrongdoing.
“We absolutely need to take responsibility for what is happening in New Jersey,” said Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J.
“It was terrible. There was a big problem with the computer issue. We have to try to fix that problem going forward.”
NEW JERSEY REMOVED 6,600 PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FROM THE VOTER REGISTERS FOR THE 2024 ELECTIONS
Representative Mikie Sherrill, Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, at an election night event on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 in East Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kim said states should be given the tools to keep voter rolls accurate rather than relying on the Department of Homeland Security’s findings after the agency found nearly 250,000 potential noncitizens registered to vote in New Jersey, California, Nevada and Pennsylvania during a preliminary investigation.
“The main thing is to ensure that states have what they need,” Kim added. “I don’t trust the idea that we’re just going to combine this with the DHS database. That’s where a lot of the problems arise, but we all have to make sure we’re paying attention to election integrity.”
Sherrill said he ordered an immediate investigation after the error was discovered and that the state’s Division of Elections removed ineligible voters from the rolls. He said fewer than 400 ballots were improperly recorded.
Improving election technology and maintaining paper trails should be a priority, Kim said.
MORE THAN 6,600 NON-CITIZEN VOTERS IN THE BLUE COUNTRY AS THE SCANDAL DEEPENED, GOP SHARED: ‘WORSE THAN EXPECTED’
Current New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim speaks at the hearing on Capitol Hill. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I insist on this. Why don’t we get behind this?” he said.
Sen. Sen., D-Hawaii, pointed to state and county officials. Brian Schatz said they should ensure that “only those who have the right to vote vote.”
The comments also came after House Democrats largely opposed a legislative package combining a congressional stock trading ban with federal voter ID measures, as a voter registration error in New Jersey reignited debate.
Asked whether the country should require a nationwide proof of citizenship requirement to vote, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-Y.D., said President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud are “a figment of his imagination.”
“There is no evidence for this and I will not confirm his false narratives,” he said.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said non-citizen voting “remains extremely rare,” although he acknowledged that those involved should be “held accountable.”
“I’ve always said people need to prove they are who they say they are before they vote, and we have systems in place to make sure that happens, so non-citizen voting remains extremely rare,” he said.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the error was “unacceptable” and noted Virginia’s voter ID requirements and election audits never revealed the issue of noncitizen voting.
“We have an ID requirement in Virginia,” he said. “We also have election audits and we have never found any non-citizen voting issues there.”
D-Wis., who praised Sherrill for coming forward “transparently.” Sen. Tammy Baldwin said election software needs to be constantly reviewed.
CALIFORNIA ACCUSED OF OBstructing FEDERAL VOTER REGISTRATION AUDIT AS DOJ INCREASES INVESTIGATIONS INTO ELECTION FRAUD ALLEGATIONS
The voter casts his vote at the polling place. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We need to constantly look at election software and make sure,” he said.
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Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., said he supports a “simple” voter ID bill but opposes the House GOP bill because it goes beyond a basic ID requirement.
“If they put in a simple voter ID bill for an up or down vote that doesn’t include other bulls in it, I’ll vote for it,” he said. “I think a lot of people on both sides will do that. But they keep adding other things like gutting mail ballots, and that was the problem with yesterday’s bill.”
