Mikie Sherrill’s administration removed approximately 5,100 people from New Jersey’s voter registration rolls after a Motor Vehicle Commission software error. The action came as county officials began reviewing another 1,450 rejected registrations tied to the same problem.
Sherrill said the administration was moving quickly to fix the error, correct the rolls and protect eligible New Jerseyans. The review now centers on whether people whose records were routed through the MVC had enough separate proof of eligibility to stay registered.
Sherrill and the MVC
The administration determined the 5,100 people were registered solely because of the software error and had never separately attested that they were eligible to vote. Sherrill briefly took the Statewide Voter Registration System offline to preserve its records and allow the Division of Elections to change the status of those affected.
Sherrill said, “My administration has continued to move aggressively to fix the error at the Motor Vehicle Commission under the previous administration, to correct our voter rolls, and to protect the voting rights of eligible New Jerseyans.” She also said, “I said we would conduct a thorough, complete, and fair investigation, and that is exactly what we are doing.”
6,600 people affected
The error affected approximately 6,600 people who applied for driver’s licenses or state identification cards between June 2023 and June 2024. The problem began during Phil Murphy’s administration, was corrected after one year, and was not disclosed publicly until July 2026.
Of the people tied to the software failure, approximately 340 later voted after registering because of the error. State officials also identified another 220 affected people who voted but had earlier voter registrations or separate attestations that may have made them validly registered.
1,450 registrations under review
The 1,450 rejected registrations involve people with separate applications, attestations or other records that need additional examination. Those residents cannot vote unless their eligibility is verified, and county officials are reviewing the records before voting begins. The MVC mailed notices in English and Spanish to affected residents telling them they had answered “No” to the citizenship question.
The remaining question is how many of the 1,450 will clear that review. If the county checks find enough separate records, the final number removed from New Jersey’s rolls could fall below 5,100; if not, the deleted status stands. Sherrill’s account leaves the broad correction in place while the individual review decides who stays on the list.
