New Jersey Removes Noncitizens From Voter Rolls
A software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission led to thousands of ineligible voter registrations.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust that your state's voter registration system effectively prevents noncitizens from casting ballots?
State officials have removed more than 5,000 noncitizens from New Jersey voter rolls following a software glitch at the Motor Vehicle Commission. The error resulted in 6,600 ineligible individuals being registered to vote between 2023 and 2024.
Why it matters
The registration scandal has drawn scrutiny from federal lawmakers, who have issued subpoenas regarding the scope of the system failure. As officials work to identify remaining problematic entries, the integrity of state electoral data remains a key point of public concern.
A software issue at the Motor Vehicle Commission caused 6,600 noncitizens to be wrongly added to voter rolls during 2023 and 2024. While 5,000 have been removed, records indicate 340 individuals cast ballots in past elections before the error was addressed.
The players
Phil Murphy
He served as the Governor of New Jersey during the period when the voter registration software error took place.
Motor Vehicle Commission
This state agency manages driver licensing and identification services where the registration software failure originated.
The details
The registrations occurred when noncitizens sought state identification or driver licenses, triggering an automated system error under the administration of former Governor Phil Murphy. Congressional Republicans have since subpoenaed the administration for documents regarding the oversight, while local election authorities continue to audit the system.
Timeline
A software registration error occurred from June 2023 to June 2024.
The software registration issue was resolved in 2024.
Vote-by-mail ballots were distributed to voters in September 2026.
An additional 1,100 problematic registrations were identified in October 2026.
Election Day is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents argue that the state's failure to maintain accurate voter rolls violates the core maintenance standards set by the National Voter Registration Act. They contend that the administration's technical oversight undermines confidence in the electoral process ahead of critical congressional races.
Citizens may face additional verification requirements at polling locations as authorities attempt to purge the remaining 1,100 identified registrations. Residents concerned about their status can contact local election boards to confirm their registration is accurate before November 3.
The takeaway
Maintaining accurate voter rolls is a complex technical process that requires rigorous cross-agency oversight. Voters should proactively check their registration status with county election offices to ensure their records are correctly updated before casting a ballot.
Further reading
For more on how state officials are managing voter registration integrity, visit the New Jersey Elections section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that your state's voter registration system effectively prevents noncitizens from casting ballots?
