A federal judge in New Jersey has denied the Department of Justice's request for unredacted access to the state's computerized voter rolls, ruling that the relevant federal statute does not apply to documents created by the state itself.
US District Judge Zahid Quraishi, an appointee of former President Biden, rejected the DOJ's request, citing privacy concerns. In his ruling, Quraishi wrote that the plain text of Title III applies only to records 'which come into' election officers' 'possession' and thus does not extend to New Jersey's computerized Voter Registration List (VRL), a document the state itself created.
The case is part of a broader controversy in New Jersey over voter roll accuracy. Earlier this year, Governor Mikie Sherrill admitted that a 'serious software error' had led to the mistaken registration of roughly 6,600 noncitizens through the state's Motor Vehicle System. Separately, it emerged that approximately 75,000 noncitizens had been summoned for jury duty through state databases, highlighting discrepancies in state record-keeping.
Mistakenly registered to vote due to a software error in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle System
The company responsible for identity-related security services for the state has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the registration errors. US Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) described the situation as 'horrible' and acknowledged 'a big problem.' The controversy has prompted additional Republican calls for a wider investigation beyond the Motor Vehicle Commission.