A viral social media post is circulating with claims regarding voter registration in New Jersey. The post, originating from conservative commentator Nick Sortor, asserts that Governor Mikie Sherrill confirmed thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote and suggests widespread election misconduct.
These claims have gained significant attention online, as issues of noncitizen voting and election integrity are prominent in national political discussions. The following provides an examination of what New Jersey officials have officially stated and how these statements compare to the viral assertions.
The Viral Claim:
The core of the viral post alleges that New Jersey officials acknowledged the registration of thousands of noncitizens, with hundreds purportedly casting ballots illegally. It further implies that these events point to broader election fraud than has been publicly disclosed.
Verification of the Facts:
The fundamental numbers presented in the viral post are indeed accurate.
During a press conference on July 21, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that approximately 6,600 individuals, who had indicated on a Motor Vehicle Commission touchscreen that they were not U.S. citizens, were nonetheless registered to vote. This occurred due to a software error that affected registrations between June 2023 and June 2024. A preliminary review also indicated that fewer than 400 of these individuals may have cast ballots.
Governor Sherrill stated that the issue originated under the previous administration and that she was only made aware of it recently. She announced that the registrations in question would be purged, a formal investigation would be launched, and the state’s software vendor would be replaced.
However, the viral post’s presentation of the situation contains several misleading elements:
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Framing of Disclosure: The post suggests that Governor Sherrill "admitted" the issue, implying it was revealed under duress. In reality, she publicly disclosed the error herself at a press conference and outlined the steps being taken to rectify it. There is no indication that this information came to light due to an external investigation or a whistleblower.
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Terminology: The post consistently refers to the affected individuals as "foreigners." Official statements from the state describe them as noncitizens, a broad category that includes lawful permanent residents, visa holders, and other legally present non-U.S. citizens. The state has not provided a breakdown of their immigration statuses.
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Implication of Criminal Intent: The suggestion that those involved "should be in handcuffs" is not supported by the available evidence. New Jersey officials have explained that many of the affected individuals correctly indicated they were not citizens, but the software erroneously registered them. While noncitizen voting is illegal under federal law, investigators have not alleged that these individuals intentionally voted illegally or knowingly misrepresented their citizenship status.
- Speculation on Further Issues: The assertion that there "is no way there aren’t more" cases of this nature is speculative. No evidence released by New Jersey supports the claim that additional undocumented issues exist beyond those currently under investigation.
In summary, while the viral post correctly identifies the existence of the New Jersey registration error and cites the approximate numbers of erroneous registrations and ballots cast, it distorts key aspects of the narrative. It mischaracterizes a self-reported software malfunction as a forced admission, conflates all noncitizens with "foreigners," implies criminal intent without evidence, and presents speculation as factual.