New Jersey Dem gov's blame game backfires after tech company pins noncitizen voter registration on state

The vendor Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill blamed for a "software error" starring to forbidden voting successful nan Garden State denies wrongdoing, and is alternatively pointing its digit backmost astatine nan state.

IDEMIA is simply a French multinational institution that provides identity-related information services. Sherrill appeared to divert immoderate authorities blasted for 6,600 noncitizens being added to nan elector rotation onto nan package institution utilized by nan state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The institution said, ultimately, that nan elector registration subordinate stops pinch nan state.

"The elector registration accusation is transmitted to nan New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is yet responsible for verifying eligibility to vote," IDEMIA said. "Information submitted by IDEMIA must still beryllium validated and adjudicated by nan Division of Elections."

Exterior position of nan Idemia office building successful Courbevoie, France, connected May 9, 2024. Idemia is simply a French integer information institution specializing successful biometrics, identification, authentication and AI. (HJBC/Getty Images)

NEW JERSEY REMOVES 6,600 PEOPLE FROM VOTER ROLLS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT FOR 2024 ELECTION

IDEMIA said that for much than 40 years nan package institution has worked pinch nan New Jersey DMV Commission to "support nan process done which eligible individuals whitethorn bespeak their liking successful registering to ballot erstwhile applying for aliases renewing a driver's licence aliases state-issued recognition card."

"IDEMIA's domiciled is to transmit accusation done nan centrifugal conveyance system," it added successful a statement.

But nan existent process for getting connected nan elector rolls successful New Jersey is up to nan state, IDEMIA insists.

The authorities and nan institution will nary longer beryllium moving together aft nan scandal. 

Sherrill announced Tuesday that a "serious package correction successful New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System led to nan registration of astir 6,600 group who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens betwixt June 2023 and June 2024, almost 3 years anterior to my taking office."

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill addresses a crowd successful Middlesex County. (Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

NONCITIZEN EX-KANSAS MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY VOTING MULTIPLE TIMES

Sherrill besides said that astir 400 noncitizens registered to ballot successful this mode really cast ballots.

The news caused a awesome firestorm, arsenic Democrats for years person insisted that it is intolerable for noncitizens to vote, and person sharply rebuked Republicans pushing for stricter elector ID laws and for suggesting that election information is a origin for concern.

"These individuals answered 'no' erstwhile asked connected a keypad whether they were a U.S. national erstwhile applying for drivers' licenses and recognition cards, but done nary responsibility of their own, nan strategy registered them anyway," according to Sherrill.

TRUMP INTERVENES AS HOUSE GOP REVOLT PUTS SAVE AMERICA ACT AT CENTER OF SPENDING SHOWDOWN

She stressed 3 times successful nan aforesaid connection that while nan "error" occurred nether nan erstwhile administration, headed by Democrat Phil Murphy, she ordered her administration's lawyer to look into nan matter and region nan illegally-registered voters from nan rolls.

President Donald Trump shows an executive bid astir TikTok he signed successful nan Oval Office of nan White House successful Washington, D.C., connected September 25, 2025. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

"Our preliminary study shows less than 400 individuals who were recently registered for nan first clip because of nan correction voted," she said. "They were registered arsenic Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiliated voters and were scattered crossed nan state."

"I americium appalled by nan reckless failures that allowed this to hap and nan deficiency of transparency shown by those successful complaint astatine nan time," she said, emphasizing for nan 3rd clip that nan improper voting didn't hap connected her watch.

Sherrill and nan Democratic Party were torn to shreds by state and national officials alike, on pinch blimpish pundits, successful nan aftermath of nan news.

"This is different illustration of Democrats failing to unafraid elections. If Democrats would clasp voter ID – which has wide nationalist support – nan MVC’s elector registration failures would person been corrected astatine nan ballot box," said NJ Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, R-Hackettstown. "New Jersey needs elector ID, because citizens merit assurance successful predetermination results and Trenton Democrats person proven they do not respond to known problems successful nan elector rolls."

Chair of nan Republican National Committee Joe Gruters speaks during nan RNC Winter Meeting astatine nan Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort successful Santa Barbara, Calif., connected Jan. 23, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP)

The Trump management weighed in, too.

"Democrats and their media friends person many times said it is intolerable for noncitizens to registry to vote, fto unsocial formed a ballot. Time and again, they person been proven wrong. As President Trump has said, location is thing much important than nan integrity of our elections," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. "And this latest incident underscores nan absolute necessity of nan SAVE America Act. American voters merit to person assurance that our elections are safe and secure."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"In nan aforesaid reside wherever she admits complete 6,000 non-citizens were registered to vote, Democrat Governor Mikie Sherrill says that President Trump's reside connected election integrity is simply a 'bizarre conspiracy mentation astir fraud,'" nan Republican National Committee said connected X.

REached for comment, Sherrill's agency told Fox News Digital: "We will fto Governor Sherrill's remarks yesterday and her disgust astatine nan nonaccomplishment of nan outgoing vendor and previous administration speak for itself."

Fox News' Charles Creitz and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.