Noncitizens Found on New Jersey Voter Rolls
Recently, Republican leaders in New Jersey have uncovered discrepancies in the state’s voter rolls, revealing that hundreds of noncitizens are registered to vote, some having a history of casting ballots.
The New Jersey Republican Party (NJGOP) along with the Republican National Committee (RNC) disclosed this finding after they obtained voter roll data from all 21 counties, according to a report. This revelation was made public on Monday.
It appears that these individuals, who are in the process of seeking naturalization, requested for their names to be removed from the rolls. Interestingly, many identified as Democrats yet claimed they were unaware of their voter registration status, worrying it might hinder their citizenship applications.
This news follows an announcement in May, where NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Giordano Hanlon stated the formation of an election integrity task force aimed at ensuring fair and secure elections in the state.
“Election integrity matters greatly to me, just like it does to many residents of New Jersey. Americans expect elections to be free, fair, and trustworthy,” Hanlon expressed, highlighting the new initiative’s intent.
According to the report, some noncitizens had indeed participated in voting. For instance, one individual who was expelled in 2015 had voted in general elections in 2000, 2001, and 2008.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters pointed out that they have identified hundreds of noncitizen registrants in New Jersey, suggesting this may just be the beginning. He emphasized that states governed by Democrats are often hesitant to share information concerning the management of voter registration lists. In total, the group reached out to 48 states for this information.
“It’s astonishing, really. The Democrats often claim that noncitizens don’t vote, but we’re uncovering many instances of self-reported issues in every county. This highlights the need for thorough record requests,” Gruters commented.
He further noted, “People want a democracy that is both safe and reliable.”
A review conducted in 2022 indicated that approximately 2,400 individuals listed on New Jersey’s voter rolls were over 105 years old, drawing attention to further irregularities.
Amidst this, former President Donald Trump has been advocating for the Save America Act, a piece of legislation that would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration. Reports suggest that this act garners support from 91% of Republicans, 50% of Democrats, and 69% of independents.
Recently, Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio described the failure of Congress to pass such measures as “embarrassing,” comparing the U.S. voting system unfavorably to that of Colombia, which has stricter voting regulations.
“In Colombia, you need proof of citizenship, and there isn’t any mail-in voting. It’s a one-day election with paper ballots counted by hand,” Moreno stated, presenting a stark contrast to the current practices in the U.S.
