NJ MVC glitch registered ~6,600 noncitizens; DOJ seeks voter-roll records

New Jersey says a Motor Vehicle (MVC) system software error led to about 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens being improperly registered to vote during the period from June 2023 through June 2024. Now, the federal scrutiny is widening: reporting says the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is seeking detailed voter-roll records tied to the incident.

In a statement posted July 21, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the problem involved a keypad citizenship question during driver’s license and identification card applications. She said applicants answered “no” when asked whether they were U.S. citizens, but the system still registered them anyway.

What NJ says happened in the Motor Vehicle system

Sherrill said the software error occurred between June 2023 and June 2024 and led to the registration of people who self-identified as noncitizens while applying for driver’s licenses and identification cards. She said the individuals answered “no” on a keypad question about U.S. citizenship, but the MVC system registered them anyway. The governor’s statement said the registration happened “through no fault” of the applicants.

What NJ says it is doing now

Sherrill said her administration ordered removal of any residents who were erroneously added to the voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024. She also said the state launched an investigation into how the error occurred, and that the new MVC administrator she appointed has begun replacing the vendor responsible for administering the system.

Ballot impact: NJ’s preliminary analysis

One of the most consequential details is NJ’s preliminary estimate of ballot activity. Sherrill said her preliminary analysis found fewer than 400 of the newly registered individuals cast ballots. Reporting also indicates NJ said there was no evidence at the time that any elections were swayed by the incident.

Why DOJ is asking for records tied to the error

Reporting says the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation and sent a letter demanding information within five business days. The letter reportedly sought details about the roughly 6,600 people wrongfully registered as voters and when and where up to 400 of them voted.

The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported that DOJ has been seeking the state’s voter rolls for about a year and that those requests have included data fields such as each voter’s full name, date of birth, address, and driver’s license information (or the last four digits of a Social Security number)—but that DOJ says the requests were rebuffed.

The national angle: voter-roll record maintenance is a federal enforcement theme

This New Jersey case fits into a broader DOJ posture on voter-roll transparency and maintenance. In a February 26, 2026 press release, DOJ said the Civil Rights Act of 1960 gives the Attorney General authority to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of statewide voter registration lists that can be cross-checked for improper registrations. DOJ also said those lawsuits had brought its nationwide total to 29 states and the District of Columbia.

What to watch next

For voters, the practical takeaway is straightforward: even if you believe your registration is correct, verify it through your state’s official tools ahead of election deadlines. For election officials and watchdogs, the key next steps are (1) NJ’s investigation results and any process changes to prevent similar Motor Vehicle workflow errors, and (2) DOJ’s follow-up—whether it triggers new filings, negotiations, or court scheduling in the ongoing voter-roll records disputes.

Sources

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (official statement, July 21, 2026)
• AP News (July 21, 2026) on NJ noncitizen registrations removal
• Axios (July 21, 2026) on the NJ voter-roll glitch
• The Philadelphia Inquirer (July 22, 2026) on DOJ’s investigation/letters timing
• U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (press release on lawsuits seeking voter-roll records, incl. NJ)