The Republican National Committee (RNC) is intensifying its conflict with New Jersey election officials concerning voter roll records. The organization is threatening legal measures in its pursuit of information regarding noncitizens identified on the state’s rolls.
On Wednesday, the RNC issued formal notices of National Voter Registration Act violations to New Jersey’s secretary of state and election officials in several counties, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union.
The committee aims to obtain records related to the removal of noncitizens, efforts to verify citizenship, and other maintenance activities regarding voter rolls. Officials have until September 15 to provide these records or potentially face litigation from the RNC.
“Democrat Governor Mikie Sherrill admitted what the RNC already uncovered through public records requests: noncitizens are on New Jersey’s voter rolls,” stated RNC Chairman Joe Gruters in a release. “Election officials are now refusing to turn over records explaining how it occurred.”
Gruters emphasized the importance of transparency, urging officials to comply with legal requirements to hand over the records, and warning of legal action if they fail to do so.
New Jersey Under Congressional Investigation
Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill divulged that about 6,600 noncitizens appeared on voter rolls due to a technical malfunction within the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) system, with up to 400 of them casting ballots.
The RNC has reported that Bergen County records show 134 noncitizens removed from New Jersey’s voter rolls between January 2023 and August 2026. The committee attributes 91 of those registrations to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
Sherrill’s administration discovered separately that a software error at the MVC led to the improper registration of approximately 6,600 individuals as voters between June 2023 and June 2024, before she assumed office.
Addressing the Error
The administration confirmed that roughly 5,100 affected individuals lacked separate registration or attestation of eligibility and were accordingly removed from the voter rolls. Additionally, about 1,450 registrations were categorized as rejected status pending further review by county election officials.
The state identified about 340 individuals who voted after being registered due to the software error. Furthermore, approximately 220 people affected by the error voted, yet possessed previous registrations or separate attestations validating their registration.
Sherrill has guided county officials to resolve outstanding cases before the upcoming November election.
Governor vs. Federal Efforts
The governor criticized efforts by the Trump administration to enhance federal oversight of state voter rolls and opposed federal attempts to acquire nonpublic voter information, describing it as a “phishing expedition” in New Jersey.
The governor’s office has stated that investigations into the MVC error are ongoing.
The RNC, New Jersey’s secretary of state, and Sherrill’s office have not immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s inquiries.