Nineteen members of the House Republican Party have written to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill demanding an explanation for the registration of roughly 6,600 individuals who identified as non‑citizens and the casting of about 400 ballots by those same individuals.
They described the incident as a catastrophic failure of the most fundamental election safeguard, not a minor clerical error.
According to the letter, the software malfunction reportedly occurred between June 2023 and June 2024, allowing ineligible voters to be entered into the rolls.
The letter, signed by Representatives Jefferson Van Drew and Chris Smith, underscores broader Republican concerns that election security vulnerabilities are increasing without corresponding legislative action to strengthen voter identification and establish federal citizenship standards.
The third Republican congressman from New Jersey, Tom Kean Jr., did not join the letter.
Governor Sherrill disclosed the issue on Tuesday, stating that a software error in the state’s Motor Vehicle System caused the unintended registration of people who answered “no” to the citizenship question on driver’s license applications.
She emphasized that the individuals had no personal fault, yet the system registered them automatically.
Republicans requested that the state provide details on its routine voter roll maintenance testing, identify the counties where the improper ballots were cast, and indicate whether the administration will support proposed voter‑ID legislation.
They also asked for a written response to these inquiries by August 21, 2026.
The deadline for the governor’s reply is set for August 21, 2026, after which the matter may proceed through further oversight mechanisms.
