Official Site of The State of New Jersey1. What happened with the MVC and voter registration?
A recently discovered error in a vendor’s software revealed that approximately 6,600 people were improperly registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 after completing a transaction at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (“MVC”). These individuals indicated they were not United States citizens, and they did not attest to being eligible to vote during this transaction. But the software erroneously transmitted these individuals for voter registration processing regardless.
This software error occurred under the prior Administration, from June 2023 to June 2024. When Governor Mikie Sherrill learned of the error, she directed her Chief Counsel to launch an independent investigation to determine how this error occurred. The investigation is ongoing.
The Motor Vehicle Commission is in the process of replacing the vendor and notifying the individuals impacted by this software error. The notification will state that MVC’s records show that the individual answered “no” on a pin pad when asked whether they were a United States citizen.
The New Jersey Division of Elections is working to ensure that anyone who was erroneously registered as a result of the software issue is taken off the voter rolls. This review may be coordinated with the County Commissioners of Registration as appropriate. The Division of Elections will work to notify affected individuals of their registration status.
A preliminary analysis shows fewer than 400 newly registered individuals voted in an election because of the error. There is no evidence at this time that those votes impacted the outcome of an election. The individuals were registered as Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated, and were scattered across the State.
A review of voter-registration processes at the MVC has identified approximately 750 additional records affected by this software error from June 2023 to June 2024 that require further action. These records reflect that individuals selected “no” on the age-eligibility prompt and did not attest to being eligible to vote during this transaction, but the software erroneously transmitted these individuals for voter registration processing. These individuals’ dates of birth confirm they were old enough to vote. No underage person voted as a result of this error.
The review of voter-registration processes at the MVC also identified approximately 340 potentially improper voter-registration records from MVC re-entry events dating back to 2016. These registrations are not related to the MVC voter registration software error.
The State of New Jersey is committed to ensuring the integrity of our elections and expanding access to our democracy for all eligible New Jerseyans. We are also committed to ensuring the privacy and safety of all New Jerseyans from threats, harassment, and voter intimidation.
2. I received a letter from the MVC saying that MVC’s software error affected me. What should I do?
To be eligible to vote in New Jersey:
- You must be a United States citizen;
- You must be a resident of the New Jersey county in which you seek to vote for 30 days before the election; and
- You must not be serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction for any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.
U.S. citizens who are at least 17 years old can register but cannot vote until reaching the age of 18, except that they may vote in a primary election if they are 17 and will be 18 at the time of the following general election.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are NOT eligible to vote. The Division of Elections, in coordination with the County Commissioners of Registration as necessary, is working to notify individuals and ensure that any individuals erroneously registered as a result of the software error are taken off the voter rolls. If you are not a United States citizen and you believe you have mistakenly been registered to vote, you should contact the Division of Elections or the Commissioner of Registration in your county (either the Superintendent of Elections or the Board of Elections in counties without a Superintendent) and request that your name be taken off the voter rolls. County information can be found here.
If you are a U.S. citizen and you meet the other qualifications for voter eligibility, you may register and vote. To do so, you must complete a Voter Registration Application and mail or deliver the Voter Registration Application to the County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections for your county. The registration deadline to vote in the next election is 21 days prior to election day.
New Jersey residents who were erroneously registered may choose to seek legal services. Resources are listed below.
3. I received a letter from the Division of Elections about my voter registration status. What should I do?
The Division of Elections is sending letters to certain individuals affected by the MVC voter registration software error. Your letter explains your current voter registration status and whether your record will receive additional review. The Division of Elections is also sending letters to individuals with potentially improperly processed voter-registration records from MVC re-entry events.
Choose the statement that appears in your letter:
The Division of Elections found no voter registration or separate record in which you attested that you were eligible to vote other than the registration affected by the software error.
Your voter registration affected by the MVC software error has been changed to "deleted." You do not currently have an active voter registration on file.
If you are not a U.S. citizen: You are not eligible to register or vote. The registration affected by the software error has been changed to "deleted."
If you are a U.S. citizen and meet the other eligibility requirements: You may register to vote using the application enclosed with your letter. You may also register online or download a voter registration application.
The deadline to register for an election is 21 days before Election Day.
The Division of Elections found no voter registration or separate record in which you attested that you were eligible to vote other than the registration affected by the software error.
Your voter registration affected by the MVC software error has been changed to "deleted," and your record has been sent to the County Commissioner of Registration in your county for additional review. You do not currently have an active voter registration on file.
If you are not a U.S. citizen: You are not eligible to register or vote. The registration affected by the software error has been changed to "deleted."
If you are a U.S. citizen and meet the other eligibility requirements: You may register to vote using the application enclosed with your letter. You may also register online or download a voter registration application. You may also contact your County Commissioner of Registration for guidance on restoring your active voter status.
The deadline to register for an election is 21 days before Election Day.
The Division of Elections found either another voter registration or a separate record in which you attested that you were eligible to vote other than the registration affected by the software error. However, because MVC records show that you answered “No” when asked whether you were a U.S. citizen, your voter registration status was changed to “rejected.”
You do not currently have an active voter registration on file. Your record has been sent to the County Commissioner of Registration in your county, as further review is required to determine whether you are eligible and should be registered.
If you are a U.S. citizen and believe you have a valid voter registration that was not affected by the MVC software error: Contact your County Commissioner of Registration for guidance on restoring your active voter status.
If you are a U.S. citizen and meet the other eligibility requirements: You may also register to vote using the application enclosed with your letter or through the Division of Elections voter registration page.
If you are not a U.S. citizen: You are not eligible to register or vote. Contact your County Commissioner of Registration if you want information about having your voter registration record removed.
For additional voter registration assistance, call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837).
You received a notice because, during an MVC visit between June 12, 2023, and June 25, 2024, your information was mistakenly sent for voter registration processing due to a software issue, despite records showing that you answered "No" when asked whether you were at least 17 years of age.
If your notice states that your voter registration was "deleted," the Division found no voter registration or separate record in which you attested that you were eligible to vote other than the registration affected by the software error. Your voter registration affected by the software error has been changed to “deleted,” and you do not currently have an active voter registration on file.
If you meet New Jersey's voter eligibility requirements, you may register to vote using the application enclosed with your letter. You may also register online or download a voter registration application.
The deadline to register for an election is 21 days before Election Day.
If your notice states that your record was referred for review by the County Commissioner of Registration but your registration status was not changed, you do not need to take any action at this time.
If you have questions about your voter registration status, call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837).
You received a notice because records indicate that you may have registered to vote before or while serving a sentence of incarceration as a result of a conviction for an indictable offense. Under New Jersey law, individuals must register to vote after they are released from incarceration, even if they have previously registered to vote. Your voter registration record has been referred even if you have previously registered to vote. Your voter registration record has been referred for review by the County Commissioner of Registration to determine whether your voter registration is invalid and whether changing the record to “deleted” is appropriate.
If you have been released from incarceration and meet all other voter eligibility requirements, you may register to vote by completing a new voter registration application. This applies even if you were previously registered to vote before your release.
For additional voter registration assistance, call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837).
4. Am I registered to vote?
You can check if you are registered to vote here:
NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Voter Search.
5. Will this mistake affect my ability to become a U.S. citizen?
New Jersey residents who were erroneously registered due to the MVC software error may choose to seek legal services. Resources are listed below.
The software error caused the MVC to transmit individuals’ information for voter processing even when the individual answered “No” in response to the question asking whether they were a United States citizen.
MVC and the Division of Elections are notifying individuals affected by the error.