House Republicans Seek Answers on Voter Registration Issues in New Jersey
A group of nineteen House Republicans is seeking clarification from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill regarding an incident where approximately 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote. Out of these, 400 ballots were cast, an issue the state attributes to a software failure.
In a letter released on Friday, the Republicans expressed their concerns about the software failure, which took place between June 2023 and June 2024. They emphasized the importance of election safeguards to ensure that only eligible American citizens participate in voting. The letter questions whether the incident was indeed a software glitch or a more serious problem.
“Despite those answers, a software failure reportedly transmitted their information for voter registration. This was not a minor clerical discrepancy,” the letter stated. “It was a catastrophic breakdown of the most basic safeguard in our election system: ensuring that only eligible American citizens are registered and permitted to vote. How do you know this was just a software glitch and not a nefarious act?”
The Republicans’ concern highlights the need for legislative measures to address election security. They propose implementing voter identification laws and federal standards for proof of citizenship.
Among the signatories of the letter were Representative Jefferson Van Drew and Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey. The state’s third Republican congressman, Representative Tom Kean Jr., did not participate.
The software issue was initially disclosed by Governor Sherrill, who announced it on Tuesday. Sherrill mentioned learning about a significant error in the New Jersey Motor Vehicle System, which led to the unintentional registration of noncitizens. These individuals had indicated they were not U.S. citizens when applying for drivers’ licenses and ID cards.
The Republicans have outlined several questions in their letter. They seek information regarding the voter roll maintenance procedures, specific counties where improper ballots were cast, and whether the administration supports voter-ID legislation.
The letter ends with a request for a response by August 21, 2026.
Reporter Leo Briceno from Fox News Digital contributed this information. He is a politics reporter for the congressional team.