07/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/21/2026 13:45
Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris, Passaic) released the following statement regarding today's announcement by Governor Sherrill that approximately 6,600 non-citizens were registered to vote and approximately 400 non-citizens voted.
"The news that approximately 6,600 non-citizens were identified on New Jersey's voter rolls following a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) software error raises serious concerns that demand a transparent and independent investigation. The fact that New Jersey has been allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license since 2020 requires the investigation be extended at least from the onset of this law, if not longer.
"This situation underscores the consequences of policy decisions that Republicans warned about from the beginning. Over six years ago, Trenton Democrats chose to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses despite our opposition, and they placed voter registration in the hands of the MVC-an agency with a long history of administrative failures.
"While New Jersey's elections include safeguards, errors like this undermine public confidence and provide those who seek to cast doubt on our election system with more ammunition. That is why it is essential that we determine exactly how this happened, and what steps are being taken to ensure it cannot happen again.
"At the very least, New Jersey should immediately suspend its automatic voter registration program until the investigation is complete and state officials publicly announce their findings, corrective actions, and next steps. It is also time for New Jersey to enact a voter identification requirement. Polling has consistently shown that voter ID enjoys broad bipartisan support because it is a commonsense measure that can strengthen confidence in our elections while protecting the integrity of the voting process.
"We will await the results of the investigation, but New Jersey residents deserve assurance that our voter registration system is accurate, secure, and worthy of their trust."