OCEAN COUNTY – Thirty-three Ocean County voter registrations will receive additional scrutiny after a statewide computer error placed thousands of people who had identified themselves as noncitizens on New Jersey’s voter rolls.
The Ocean County Board of Elections agreed at its September 8 meeting to send what officials called “domicile letters” to the affected individuals. The letters will notify them that questions have been raised about their registrations and give them an opportunity to provide information confirming their eligibility.
The discussion later expanded beyond those 33 cases. In a separate 2-1 vote, the board agreed to seek guidance from state and federal officials on whether election workers may require applicants to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship before registering to vote.
Republican Chairman George Gilmore and Republican Commissioner Justin Flancbaum supported sending the request. Democrat Commissioner Jeff Horn opposed the version that did not explicitly state that any such requirement would have to comply with New Jersey law. The normally four-member board was down to three commissioners by then because Democrat Commissioner Wyatt Earp, who had participated by telephone, left early for another appointment. The commission by law has two Republican and two Democrat members. Gilmore and Earp are the county leaders of their groups.
State Software Error Registered Noncitizens
The review stems from an error involving voter registrations processed through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. In a July 21 statement, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said a “serious software error” resulted in approximately 6,600 people being registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024, even though they had indicated they were not U.S. citizens while applying for driver’s licenses or identification cards.
“These individuals answered ‘no’ when asked on a keypad whether they were a U.S. citizen when applying for drivers’ licenses and identification cards, but through no fault of their own, the system registered them anyway,” Sherrill said.
The governor said a preliminary analysis found that fewer than 400 of those individuals voted. They had registered as Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters and were scattered throughout the state. Sherrill ordered an investigation, the removal of people erroneously added to the rolls and the replacement of the vendor that administered the system.
33 Registrations Under Review
Ocean County election officials said the state referred 33 registrations for further review. Two involved voters who had since died, while another contained conflicting information concerning citizenship. In that case, the individual indicated on a 2012 voter registration record that they were a citizen but checked “no” during an MVC transaction in 2024.
Board members acknowledged that the conflicting entries did not necessarily establish that anyone had intentionally registered or voted illegally. The individual might have become a naturalized citizen between the two transactions, or one of the answers could have been entered incorrectly.
Horn cautioned that the 33 registrations had been identified for investigation and should not be treated as established cases of voter fraud. Election officials said some of the people had voted, while most had not.
Democratic election supervisor Jason Varano said the board had voted to send domicile letters to the 33 individuals as part of that investigation. Gilmore suggested the letters tell recipients that if they believed they had been removed improperly, they should contact the Board of Elections and provide proof of citizenship.
Proof Of Citizenship Requested
Gilmore then raised a separate question about future registration applications. He proposed asking whether county election officials may require a birth certificate or another form of documentation establishing citizenship before placing someone on the voter rolls.
“I think everybody only wants U.S. citizens to vote in our election,” Gilmore said. “I think that we should be able to require proof of U.S. citizenship.”
The proposed letter would be sent to the governor or New Jersey Attorney General, with a copy provided to federal authorities. Horn questioned how the request would be worded and said his position could depend on whether it specified that any additional documentation requirement must be permitted by New Jersey law.
Gilmore and Flancbaum ultimately supported sending the inquiry. Horn voted against the version that did not include the legal qualification. The letter itself does not establish a new registration requirement but asks state and federal officials whether Ocean County has the authority to impose one.
Attendees Warn Of Voter Suppression
The proposal drew objections from meeting attendees who said requiring additional documents could discourage eligible citizens from registering and lead to unequal treatment. A Beachwood resident characterized the proposal as a form of voter suppression. Another attendee said he was concerned that people with certain surnames would face greater scrutiny.
A man who identified his last name as Gonzalez asked board members to consider whether applicants with Hispanic surnames would be treated the same as someone named Smith. “A Gonzalez or Hernandez and a Smith go in the voter registration office,” he said, before Gilmore interrupted to reject the suggestion that election workers would discriminate.
“My last name is Gonzalez,” he continued. “I had more trouble registering and doing things and being harassed by police officers in my 72 years of life than I guarantee people with the last name Smith have.”
Gilmore denied that a proof requirement would be enforced according to anyone’s name or ethnicity. “I don’t care if their name’s Smith. I don’t care if your last name is Gilmore,” he said. “The law is the law.”
Registration Volunteers Question Their Role
Patti Russo, voter services chair for the League of Women Voters of Ocean County, asked whether volunteers conducting registration drives would become responsible for reviewing citizenship documents.
“Does that onus fall on people such as myself with the League who would be registering people?” Russo asked.
Gilmore said it would not. Volunteers would continue helping applicants complete voter registration forms and sending the forms to the Board of Elections, while any responsibility for reviewing eligibility or supporting documents would remain with election officials.
The board’s request now leaves state officials to determine whether existing law permits counties to demand proof of citizenship beyond the information applicants currently provide on New Jersey voter registration forms.
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