New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D) stated on July 23, 2026, that her administration will not comply with a request from the Trump administration to provide the identities of approximately 6,600 noncitizens who were mistakenly registered to vote due to a software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission. Sherrill accused federal officials of attempting to use the situation for political gain rather than for election integrity. She emphasized the importance of protecting personal data and expressed concerns over the federal government's handling of such information.
The registration error occurred between June 2023 and June 2024, affecting individuals who had identified themselves as noncitizens while interacting with the MVC. About 400 of these individuals voted before the issue was identified and corrected. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has argued that the information is necessary to enforce federal laws prohibiting noncitizen voting.
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to New Jersey demanding the names, addresses, and nationalities of those affected. Dhillon warned that noncitizens who voted could face legal and immigration consequences. Sherrill criticized the previous administration for a lack of accountability regarding the registration error and stated that the public should not have to wait extended periods to be informed of such issues. Former Governor Phil Murphy has not commented on the matter.