The Republican National Committee (RNC) ramped up pressure this week on the election authorities in New Jersey by threatening to take legal action if several state and county officials do not provide information related to non-U.S. citizens who have appeared on voter rolls.
The RNC sent formal notifications on Wednesday for possible violations of the National Voter Registration Act to the Secretary of State of New Jersey and election officials in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. The organization demands documents regarding the removal of records of non-citizens, processes to verify citizenship, and other activities aimed at keeping voter lists updated.
Officials have until September 15 to submit the requested documentation. If they fail to do so, the RNC warned that it could turn to the courts.
The chairman of the Republican National Committee and senator from Florida claims that there is evidence of foreign involvement in the voting in New Jersey
RNC Chair Joe Gruters stated that Republicans had already found evidence through public records requests that non-U.S. citizens were listed on New Jersey's voter rolls. Gruters also questioned why authorities are now refusing to provide documents that would determine how those individuals ended up registered.
''Voters deserve answers,'' Gruters asserted, claiming that the RNC is prepared to enforce the legal obligations of election officials.
The Republican offensive comes after Bergen County records identified 134 non-citizens who were removed from New Jersey's voter rolls between January 2023 and August 2026. Of that total, 91 records were linked to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
Republicans believe that this data justifies a deeper review of the procedures used to register and maintain voters. From their perspective, ensuring that voter lists are accurate is essential to protecting the integrity of elections and preserving public trust.
The Democratic government of New Jersey admitted that due to "software errors" thousands of people were improperly registered and ended up voting
The controversy intensified after Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill acknowledged another issue related to the MVC. According to the state, a software error caused approximately 6,600 people to be improperly registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024, before Sherrill took office.
State authorities reported that about 5,100 affected individuals were removed from the rolls because they did not have a separate registration or eligibility certification. Approximately 1,450 other registrations were classified as rejected while county election officials conduct further reviews.
The case is particularly significant because the state itself identified about 340 individuals who registered as a result of the error and subsequently voted. Around 220 affected individuals who voted were also detected, although they had prior registrations or independent certifications that could indicate they were legally eligible to vote.
The Democratic governor of New Jersey downplayed the voting of hundreds of foreigners and again criticized the government of Donald Trump
Sherrill's administration has indicated that county officials were instructed to resolve the remaining cases before the November elections. However, the RNC argues that the issues uncovered justify greater transparency and oversight.
Sherrill, for her part, has rejected the administration's effortsTrump to gain greater access to information about state voter registrations. The governor accuses the federal government of trying to expand its control over voter lists and labeled the information requests as a ''fishing expedition.''
The state government maintains that its investigation into the MVC error is ongoing.
For Republicans, the dispute represents an opportunity to demand stricter controls on voter registrations and question the barriers faced by federal authorities and political parties when trying to verify the integrity of the lists. The RNC asserts that its goal is to obtain information that clarifies how many ineligible individuals were registered, how it happened, and what measures have been taken to prevent the issue from recurring.
The threat of litigation thus marks a new escalation in the electoral dispute in New Jersey, as Republicans maintain that transparency and verification of voter eligibility must be priorities ahead of the upcoming elections.
The government of Donald Trump has made election security a priority, emphasizing the presentation of identification to vote
