{"id":2633663,"date":"2026-07-22T13:29:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-bolsters-new-jersey-suit-after-6600-illegal-registrants-discovered\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T13:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:34:34","slug":"doj-bolsters-new-jersey-suit-after-6600-illegal-registrants-discovered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-bolsters-new-jersey-suit-after-6600-illegal-registrants-discovered\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ bolsters New Jersey suit after 6,600 illegal registrants discovered"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-bolsters-new-jersey-suit-after-6600-illegal-registrants-discovered%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2633663&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Trump governance efforts related to voter registration issues in New Jersey. It highlights how a software error on the state&#8217;s Motor Vehicle Commission&#8217;s system mistakenly registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote between June 2023 and June 2024, with about 400 confirmed to have voted. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced the error, emphasizing that there\u2019s no current evidence of election result changes. The DOJ is seeking full access to New Jersey\u2019s unredacted voter rolls as part of its lawsuit to investigate possible violations under federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. Legal experts debate the DOJ\u2019s authority to access such data, with some arguing that access is necessary to enforce voter list maintainance laws. President Donald Trump highlighted the issue, claiming that thousands of noncitizens are registered and voting, and called for passing laws requiring voter identification and citizenship verification. the case remains uncertain, with ongoing legal battles over the DOJ\u2019s authority and whether the state properly maintains voter lists.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> is seeking to use <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1065\">New Jersey\u2019s<\/a> disclosure that a software error improperly registered roughly 6,600 noncitizens to vote as fresh support for its lawsuit demanding access to the state\u2019s unredacted voter rolls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In reaction to the groundbreaking development in the Garden State on Tuesday, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a>\u2018s Assistant Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a> notified Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mikie-sherrill\/\">Mikie Sherrill<\/a> (D-NJ) in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/DOJ-NJ-Letter-07-21-26.png\">letter<\/a> that the department had opened a federal review of the incident. She gave the state five business days to provide extensive information about the affected registrants.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4658533\/doj-bolster-new-jersey-lawsuit-noncitizen-voter-registrations-discovered\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ seeks to bolster New Jersey lawsuit after thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-sos-review-finds-499-more-noncitizens-registered-to-vote\/\" title=\"Ohio SOS Review Finds 499 More Noncitizens ... To ...\">noncitizen voter registrations discovered<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4658458\/1st-circuit-upholds-massachussetts-assault-weapons-ban\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>First Circuit upholds Massachusetts \u2018assault weapons\u2019 ban as Supreme Court prepares to weigh in<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4658345\/former-us-attorney-sues-trump-administration-fired-hour-after-appointed\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Former US attorney sues Trump administration after being fired an hour after being appointed<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FILE \u2013 Harmeet Dhillon walks through a hallway after talking to reporters at the Republican National Committee winter meeting in Dana Point, Calif., Jan. 27, 2023. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP25122775373078.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harmeet Dhillon walks through a hallway after talking to reporters at the Republican National Committee winter meeting in Dana Point, Calif., Jan. 27, 2023. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ then filed Dhillon\u2019s notice in the case <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/72333329\/united-states-v-caldwell\/?filed_after=&#038;filed_before=&#038;entry_gte=&#038;entry_lte=&#038;order_by=desc\">United States v. Caldwell<\/a><\/em>, its pending voter-data lawsuit against New Jersey, telling U.S. District Judge Zahid Nisar Quraishi that the incident provides an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.njd.592512\/gov.uscourts.njd.592512.100.0.pdf\">\u201cadditional basis\u201d<\/a> for obtaining an electronic copy of the statewide voter registration list.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dhillon hinted that aggressive moves in the case were coming on Tuesday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/search?q=dhillon%20stay%20tuned&#038;src=typed_query\">posting to X<\/a> to \u201cstay tuned\u201d after saying the DOJ has already been attempting to help the state \u201cavoid exactly such \u2018errors.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hans von Spakovsky, a former DOJ attorney and senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, said the disclosure could provide the DOJ with evidence that New Jersey failed to maintain accurate voter rolls as required by federal law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf I was still a lawyer at the Justice Department, I would immediately produce evidence of this error and mistake that occurred,\u201d von Spakovsky told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said the department could argue to the court: \u201cLook, they are not correctly maintaining their voter list the way federal law requires, and it\u2019s just another piece of evidence that shows that we need access to the list to see what other problems and mistakes they\u2019ve made.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill talks to reporters during a news conference in Trenton, N.J., Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26182556305321.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill talks to reporters during a news conference in Trenton, N.J., Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sherrill <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4657284\/sherrill-remove-6000-noncitizens-voter-rolls-dmv-error\/\">announced Tuesday<\/a> that a defect in the state Motor Vehicle Commission\u2019s registration system affected noncitizens who applied for driver\u2019s licenses or identification cards between June 2023 and June 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The roughly 6,600 applicants indicated through an electronic keypad that they were not U.S. citizens, but the software allegedly disregarded their answers and registered them to vote anyway. Around 400 of those noncitizens subsequently voted in at least one election.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sherrill said officials currently have no evidence that the error changed an election result. The state\u2019s preliminary investigation found that the affected people were scattered across New Jersey and registered across party affiliations, with most unaffiliated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dhillon demanded their full names, dates of birth, nationalities, residential addresses, and registration dates and locations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those who voted, the DOJ also requested information about when and where they cast ballots. If they voted by mail, the department demanded copies of the accompanying certifications and signatures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEnsuring that U.S. citizens\u2019 votes are not illegally diluted by noncitizens\u2019 votes is of paramount importance,\u201d Dhillon wrote. \u201cWe therefore write to formally request additional information to assess New Jersey\u2019s compliance with various federal statutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The department also directed New Jersey to preserve all records connected to the disclosure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ\u2019s notice in the <em>Caldwell<\/em> case acknowledged that it remains unknown which elections the affected noncitizens voted in or whether their ballots changed the outcome of any race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawsuit, initially filed in February, seeks to compel New Jersey to provide its complete, unredacted statewide voter file under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. New Jersey and intervening groups, including the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aclu\/\">American Civil Liberties Union<\/a>, contend that the demand exceeds the DOJ\u2019s statutory authority and conflicts with state privacy protections<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Von Spakovsky pointed to the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which contain voter-list maintenance provisions that the attorney general has authority to enforce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe only way the government can determine whether the state is actually complying with those provisions is if they are able to take an intense, in-depth look at their voter registration list,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disclosure could strengthen DOJ\u2019s factual justification for inspecting New Jersey\u2019s records, particularly after courts found that some of its demand letters failed to state an adequate \u201cbasis and purpose.\u201d But the incident does not necessarily settle the separate legal question of whether Title III permits the DOJ to obtain an entire unredacted voter database.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has lost 16 consecutive district court cases in its nationwide voter-data campaign and also lost its first federal appeal. No court has ordered a state to surrender an unredacted statewide voter file.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Von Spakovsky argued that judges ruling against the DOJ have failed to grapple adequately with the attorney general\u2019s enforcement responsibilities under the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow can the federal government enforce those provisions if they don\u2019t have access to the statewide voter registration list?\u201d he said. \u201cThat is why I think those judges are all wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disclosure also prompted President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> to renew his push for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/save-america-act\/\">SAVE America Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c35,152 is the new number just released by Homeland Security of non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social late Tuesday. \u201cThese are just the ones that got caught.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s figure referred to a separate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> estimate of possible noncitizens on New Jersey\u2019s rolls. Sherrill has said the state asked DHS for the identities of those alleged registrants and evidence supporting that number but has not received them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also claimed the registrants were \u201call Dumocrats,\u201d although Sherrill said those affected by the software error were registered as Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president concluded his post by calling on Republicans to \u201cstraighten out our Crooked Elections\u201d and pass the SAVE America Act, which includes voter identification and citizenship-verification requirements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4657750\/white-house-victory-lap-discovery-6600-noncitizens-new-jersey-voter-rolls\/\">WHITE HOUSE TAKES VICTORY LAP OVER DISCOVERY OF 6,600 NONCITIZENS ON NEW JERSEY VOTER ROLLS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether the DOJ\u2019s New Jersey lawsuit shares the same fate as the department\u2019s other cases rests in the hands of the judge, though legal experts previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/litigation\/doj-down-big-but-not-out-yet-in-quest-for-state-voter-rolls\">told <em>Bloomberg Law<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>there is a chance more federal appeals courts could side with the DOJ as more cases arrive to them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is sometimes a groupthink that develops among district judges\u201d on issues where there isn\u2019t a lot of case law, said Abhishek Kambli, a partner at Holtzman &#038; Vogel and former associate attorney general for the DOJ. \u201cWhen you see a series of decisions go one way, then the easiest thing to do is to go along with the chorus.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump admin uses NJ noncitizen vote error to push for voter data access<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2633664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25219590138446.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7076,34382,83030,33096,50432],"class_list":["post-2633663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj","tag-election-security","tag-illegal-registrants","tag-new-jersey","tag-voter-registration-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25219590138446.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633663"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633667,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633663\/revisions\/2633667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}