House Republicans are examining New Jersey’s voter registration system following Governor Mikie Sherrill’s admission that over 6,000 noncitizens were mistakenly added to the state’s voter rolls in 2023 and 2024. This revelation has instigated scrutiny from the GOP, focusing on election integrity as the November midterms approach.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio and Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil of Wisconsin reached out to New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell. They seek details on the state’s adherence to federal election laws. The investigation aims to clarify how noncitizens were registered to vote and the steps taken to address the issue.
“During a press conference on July 21, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill disclosed that around 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024,” Jordan and Steil wrote in their correspondence. They attributed the error to the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), which incorrectly sent voter registration information of noncitizens to the Division of Elections.
Governor Sherrill has indicated that approximately 400 noncitizens have voted in elections since 2023. The letter from the Republican chairmen emphasizes significant concerns about New Jersey potentially adding thousands of noncitizens to its voter rolls. They are requesting information from the New Jersey Department of State to verify compliance with federal voting laws.
Sherrill has blamed the mistake on a software malfunction within New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle system. However, it remains unclear how many noncitizens have managed to register beyond the specified years due to New Jersey’s motor voter laws, which facilitate voter registration during DMV visits.
The information challenges assurances from Democrats that noncitizens are not voting in U.S. elections, reinforcing the Republican push for stricter federal standards at polling stations. No evidence indicates that noncitizens have affected the outcomes of federal elections, but the registrations have raised concern.
The software vendor, IDEMIA, has contested the governor’s claims, stating the issue arose from actions by New Jersey agencies. According to IDEMIA, the registration errors continued until MVC adjusted software settings in June 2024, yet the noncitizens were not removed from voter rolls immediately nor was the issue disclosed publicly.
If Governor Sherrill’s administration had access to accurate citizenship data of noncitizen registrants and was aware of the situation since June 2024, the responsibility for non-disclosure and continued registration becomes questionable.
House Republicans are pressing Caldwell, New Jersey’s top elections official, to aid their investigation. They seek comprehensive details on New Jersey’s compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA). These acts govern voter roll accuracy and the responsibilities of state motor agencies.
The committees are requesting documents concerning New Jersey’s processes for verifying voter eligibility and any signs of non-cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in authenticating citizenship status.
The inquiry involves additional signatories, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey and Rep. Laurel Lee of Florida, both chair relevant subcommittees on these issues. The deadline for New Jersey’s government to provide the requested documents is August 17.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Governor Sherrill’s office for comment. Elizabeth Elkind handles politics coverage for Fox News Digital, focusing on the House of Representatives.