WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice opened an investigation into the voting system problem that registered more than 6,000 noncitizens to cast ballots in New Jersey, according to congressman Jeff Van Drew.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a first-term Democrat who took office in January, said that she would “hold accountable” the people responsible for the error when she announced the details Tuesday.
“The Justice Department’s looking into it,” Van Drew (R-2nd District) said Thursday morning at the Capitol in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “This is a real oversight issue.”
Of the roughly 6,600 who were incorrectly registered to vote, about 400 cast ballots in at least one election. None of those votes appeared to influence the contests’ outcomes, Sherrill said.
Van Drew, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s oversight subcommittee, said he plans to begin a separate congressional investigation. He will hold hearings in the fall when Congress returns from summer break, he said.
“The Trump administration has a long history of weaponizing the Justice Department for political purposes and attempting to overturn election results,” Sean Higgins, a spokesman for the governor, said by email. “Governor Sherrill has been clear that she will use all the legal tools available to her to protect New Jerseyans’ personal information.”
“It is illegal for any noncitizen to vote in a federal election, and every unlawful vote dilutes the voice of American citizens,” said a Justice Department spokesperson. “The department is prosecuting cases where the law and evidence support it.”
Department of Justice officials sent two letters dated Tuesday to Sherrill and Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell, demanding information about the election glitch.
‘A lot of questions’
News of the voter registration error is a well-timed political gift for President Donald Trump and his Republican allies Congress, who are pushing to pass a restrictive national elections bill before the midterm races in November. Trump and House Republicans pounced on the topic during floor debate on Wednesday, seizing upon Sherrill’s announcement as a reason to pass their bill.
“In New Jersey, they just admitted 6,600 noncitizens are on their rolls. Many of them voting. Voting in their elections. Illegals on their rolls, voting,” said Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority leader from Louisiana.
“We are going to have a hearing when we’re back on this whole thing,” Van Drew said. “We have a lot of questions to ask.”
Van Drew gave credit to Sherrill for disclosing the issue. “She came out and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got a problem.’”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Sherrill said she learned about the matter on July 15 and immediately started an investigation. A yearlong Motor Vehicle Commission software glitch, starting in June 2023, enabled individuals who were applying for driver’s licenses to join voter rolls, the governor said. Even if they declined to register to vote, they were added to the New Jersey election system, the administration said.
The error was caused by Idemia, the commission’s technology vendor for 40 years, according to Sherrill, and the company will be replaced next year. Idemia, a French multinational company with government contracts worldwide, said the state was at fault.
“The voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote,” Idemia said in a statement.
Sherrill, a former member of Congress and ex-federal prosecutor who took office in January, criticized her predecessor, fellow Democrat Phil Murphy.
“I am appalled by the reckless failures that allowed this to happen and the lack of transparency shown by those in charge at the time.” She pledged to hold accountable the individuals responsible.
A Murphy spokesman, contacted by NJ Spotlight News, declined to comment.
