Investigation into Non-Citizen Voting in New Jersey
The Justice Department has launched an investigation into voting practices in New Jersey, particularly concerning non-citizen participation. However, Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, is pushing back against this inquiry.
On July 21, Governor Sherrill acknowledged that around 6,600 individuals registered to vote were not citizens, with about 400 of these non-citizens actually casting votes. She attributed this issue to a “software error.” Still, the software company involved stated that all data it sends is “validated and processed by the Department of Elections.”
The Justice Department has requested that Sherrill submit a list of these voters, but she has declined to comply with that demand.
In her social media post, Sherrill defended her stance: “New Jersey is committed to protecting the privacy of its residents. There is no legal obligation to fulfill this request.” She argued that sharing such information would violate federal privacy laws.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon responded to Sherrill’s refusal, emphasizing that the lack of cooperation does not help legitimate voters in New Jersey. “The state has a responsibility to remove ineligible voters, and our request is made under that legal authority. We will obtain this information through appropriate legal channels,” Dhillon stated.
When asked whether she would adhere to the Justice Department’s request, Sherrill criticized the Trump administration for allegedly weaponizing governmental authority. “I do not usually share the personal details of New Jersey residents,” she remarked, voicing concerns that this federal inquiry is targeting those who oppose it politically.
Earlier, Sherrill highlighted that the 400 non-citizens who voted were evenly dispersed throughout the state, comprising a mix of Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters. She also mentioned that they were removed from the voter rolls as soon as the errors were discovered, which she claims occurred during the previous administration.
