Noncitizens have been discovered on New Jersey’s voter rolls for years, with some having participated in elections, raising concerns about election integrity, according to documents from the RNC and NJGOP.
Noncitizens have been found on the voter rolls in New Jersey for several years, with some individuals reportedly voting in past elections. This revelation comes from documents obtained through a public records request by the New Jersey Republican Party (NJGOP) and the Republican National Committee (RNC).
The investigation revealed that noncitizens, who were in the process of seeking naturalization, requested to be removed from the voter rolls, claiming they had been unknowingly registered to vote. Notably, many of these individuals were registered as Democrats.
Under state and federal law, noncitizens are prohibited from voting, and those seeking citizenship expressed concern that their registration could jeopardize their applications. Official correspondence from Atlantic County, specifically from Superintendent of Elections and Commissioner of Registration Maureen Bugdon, confirmed that noncitizens approached her office to request their removal from the voter rolls.
One typical letter from the office stated, “Please allow this letter to confirm that on today’s date, the below referenced individual came before this office to confirm her registration and voter status. She relayed that she did not wish to be a New Jersey registered voter and does not understand how she became registered through the Department of Motor Vehicles, allegedly.”
While most of the letters indicated that the noncitizens did not have a voting record, there were exceptions. One individual, removed from the rolls in 2015, had voted multiple times in the years 2000 and 2001, as well as in the 2008 general election. Another noncitizen participated in a primary election in 2005 and a municipal election in 2000.
Additional documents revealed that noncitizens directly requested to be removed from the voter rolls using a state voter registration cancellation form. When asked why they wanted to be removed, most checked a box labeled “other” and noted that they were not citizens.
In Atlantic County alone, Fox News Digital reviewed over 50 documents from noncitizens affirming that they were registered to vote without their knowledge.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters stated that the organization uncovered hundreds of noncitizen registrants in New Jersey, suggesting that this may only represent a fraction of the total. He criticized New Jersey and other Democrat-led states for their reluctance to disclose information regarding their voter registration maintenance processes. The RNC has requested this information from 48 states.
“It’s really incredible because here the Democrats are saying that noncitizens never vote, that this is a non-issue, but every county we’re finding people that are self-reporting now,” Gruters told Fox News Digital. “I’m glad we’re doing these records requests because it’s really eye-opening, because this is just the people that have self-reported.”
Gruters emphasized the importance of ensuring a secure democracy and elections that inspire public confidence. The RNC has been actively pursuing election integrity initiatives, a campaign that has continued into 2024.
He noted that the organization is “bringing the hammer down” and has “boots on the ground” in 17 states to ensure diligence in the upcoming elections. “We have staffers already in 17 states working on these issues to make sure that, like I said, it goes back to having a safe and secure election that’s free and fair,” he added.
In addition to these efforts, the RNC is also involved in a legal battle regarding election integrity. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case of Watson vs. RNC, which challenges laws allowing ballots to be cast by mail on election day but counted days later. Gruters expressed optimism about the potential outcome, suggesting that a victory could represent a significant achievement for election integrity.
“I mean, just what’s happened with [Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate] Spencer Pratt should open your eyes, and you should be sick to your stomach,” he remarked. “This should not be allowed in America.”
He cautioned that elections with “open-ended target dates” could lead to potential manipulation and emphasized the RNC’s commitment to ensuring that election day means exactly that—election day.
As of now, the office of Democratic New Jersey Governor Mickie Sherrill has not responded to requests for comment, nor have officials from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or Atlantic County.
For further details, see the full cache of documents here.
According to Fox News Digital, the implications of these findings could have significant ramifications for future elections in New Jersey and beyond.