Will all noncitizens registered by mistake be removed immediately?

No, while 4,500 registrations will be removed right away, about 2,100 cases are being kept for further review. State officials believe some of these individuals may actually be citizens and want to avoid disenfranchising eligible voters.

Did any noncitizens vote in past elections due to this error?

Yes, fewer than 400 improperly registered people are believed to have cast ballots in previous elections. These votes were spread across the state among Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters.

Who is investigating how this software error happened?

Governor Sherrill has hired an independent firm called CSG Law to conduct a review with haste. Additionally, federal investigators have launched their own probe into the registration errors and House members plan hearings.

NJ voter cleanup may leave 2,100 registrations under review after MVC error

Governor Sherrill says state will remove 4,500 ineligible voters but keep over 2,000 on rolls pending citizenship checks to avoid disenfranchising eligible residents.

By The Eleventh staff · July 31, 2026 · AI-assisted, grounded in the cited sources below

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a major update regarding the voter registration scandal that has shaken the state this week. A serious software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission allowed approximately 6,600 noncitizens to register to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 during the previous administration. These individuals had indicated they were not citizens while applying for identification but were registered anyway due to the glitch.

The state has begun a cleanup process that will immediately remove 4,500 voter registrations tied directly to this error. However, an initial review suggests some of these individuals may actually be U.S. citizens despite their prior indication at the MVC. Consequently, about 2,100 registrations will remain on the rolls and be referred to county election officials for further scrutiny.

Balancing removal with voter rights

Governor Sherrill emphasized that while there is an obligation to remove everyone who is not eligible to vote, there is also a responsibility to protect voting rights. She stated it was important to ensure no lawfully registered voters are improperly removed from the rolls during this cleanup effort. The Division of Elections will handle the immediate removals while county officials review the remaining cases.

The MVC has mailed letters to all individuals affected by the software error to notify them of the situation. A public FAQ website has also been launched to provide information to residents and those impacted by the registration mistake. This communication effort aims to clarify the status of each voter as the state works through the backlog.

Scope of past voting activity

Fewer than 400 of the improperly registered individuals are believed to have cast ballots in past elections according to official statements. These votes were spread around the state and among people who had registered as Democrats, Republicans, or unaffiliated voters. Governor Sherrill noted there is no evidence so far that these faulty votes tipped the balance in any specific election.

The error occurred over a one-year period starting in June 2023 and ending in June 2024 before the current administration took office. This timeline places the issue squarely within the tenure of the previous leadership at the state level. The discovery has prompted immediate action from Governor Sherrill's team to address the integrity of the voter rolls.

Federal and independent investigations

Federal investigators have launched a probe into the New Jersey voter registration errors following the revelation of the software glitch. House members say they plan hearings into the system that allowed thousands of noncitizens to register even if they opted out during their application process. This federal interest adds another layer of scrutiny beyond state-level actions.

Governor Sherrill has promised a full investigation led by her chief counsel to examine how this error occurred and who was responsible. The state has hired an independent firm, Roseland-based CSG Law, to conduct the review with all possible haste as part of their transparency efforts. An editorial from USA TODAY Network New Jersey argues that the situation requires an independent bipartisan probe rather than one run solely out of the governor's office.

The call for a broader investigation includes potential criminal charges if anyone knowingly ignored or contributed to the problem. Critics suggest that those who voted illegally should also face consequences under state law. The editorial board notes this news puts weight behind proposals requiring voters to prove their identity at the polls, an idea Democrats have previously resisted.

Impact on local election officials

County election officials will now take over the review of approximately 2,100 cases where citizenship status remains unclear after the initial state screening. This shift places a significant burden on local offices to verify eligibility without disenfranchising eligible voters in Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties. The process requires careful handling to distinguish between genuine citizens who were misclassified and noncitizens who should be removed.

The situation has unfolded rapidly with updates provided by the governor on Tuesday regarding the state's response over the past week. Officials moved on multiple fronts including notifying affected individuals and launching public resources to explain the cleanup process. Residents in the 11th Congressional District may see changes in their local voter rolls as these reviews conclude.

The timeline for completing the review of the remaining 2,100 registrations has not been specified by state officials yet. Governor Sherrill stressed that protecting voting rights is just as important as removing ineligible voters from the system. The outcome will determine how many people remain on the rolls versus those who are permanently removed due to ineligibility.