A software glitch in New Jersey has sparked claims of widespread US election fraud after it emerged that approximately 6,600 non-citizens were erroneously registered to vote between 2023 and 2024. Former US President Donald Trump and his allies have seized upon the error, but experts say it is a minor administrative issue rather than evidence of systemic cheating.
The incident highlights the complexities of automatic voter registration, which was introduced in New Jersey in 2018. Interactions with the motor vehicle office trigger automatic registration unless an individual opts out. The glitch caused non-citizens who indicated their status to be registered regardless, but it's worth noting that this represents a tiny proportion – less than 0.1% - of the state's more than 6.6 million registered voters.
According to Governor Mikie Sherrill, only 400 of those erroneously registered individuals actually cast a ballot. Moreover, she clarified that the registrations included both Democrats and Republicans, with most unaffiliated with any political party – directly contradicting claims that all were 'Dumocrats'.
The controversy follows a high-profile speech by Mr Trump, in which he alleged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had identified 278,000 non-citizens on voter rolls across four states, including New Jersey. However, a review of DHS letters to these states reveals that the agency expressed less certainty about this number and provided minimal explanation for its methodology – suggesting it was a maximum potential figure rather than a confirmed count.
Election administration experts have downplayed the significance of the New Jersey error in the broader context of election integrity. David Becker, Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, described the number of non-citizens registered as a 'minuscule fraction' of the state's active voters. He added that the potential ballots cast from these incorrect registrations would constitute roughly 0.009% of all ballots cast in New Jersey's 2024 general election – an election where Kamala Harris defeated Mr Trump by over 250,000 votes.
Stephen Richer, a Republican who oversaw elections in Maricopa County, Arizona, from 2021 to 2025, acknowledged the error was 'not good' but stressed it was not an example of the widespread fraud alleged by some. He highlighted that the vast majority of those erroneously registered, despite receiving election mail, did not vote, indicating an attempt to follow proper procedure rather than an intent to defraud. Experts conclude that while administrative errors can occur, they are rare, impact a very small number of voters, and are best detected and corrected by state election officials.