TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio are seeking answers from the law firm retained by the Sherrill administration to investigate the unlawful registration of at least 6,600 noncitizens.
Bucco, R-Morris and Passaic, and DiMaio, R-Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren, sent a letter to Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC outlining 10 areas of inquiry related to the voter registrations and hundreds of noncitizens who they said cast ballots.
The lawmakers cited Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s July 21 disclosure that the state’s voter registration system had resulted in at least 6,600 noncitizens being unlawfully registered between June 2023 and June 2024.
“As you are aware, on July 21, 2026, Governor Sherrill disclosed that the State’s voter registration system has been compromised, resulting in the unlawful registration of at least 6,600 noncitizens between June 2023 and June 2024. Given the gravity of this breach, it is imperative that we take all necessary steps to guarantee the security of future elections, ensure accountability, and restore public confidence in our democratic process. As your firm has been retained by the Sherrill Administration to investigate this matter, we are requesting that you provide answers to a number of questions that remain unaddressed at this time.
“As we are confident you will agree, all New Jerseyans deserve a voter registration system that is accurate, secure, and worthy of the public’s trust. To that end, a transparent and robust response to the foregoing questions will prevent future failures in the voter registration process and help restore confidence in the integrity of our elections.”
Among the questions, Bucco and DiMaio are asking what specific defect or breakdown allowed people who answered “no” to a citizenship question at the Motor Vehicle Commission to continue through the voter registration process.
The lawmakers also asked whether the software operated contrary to its approved specifications or as designed under a state-approved process, and whether human error, inadequate oversight or procedural failures contributed to the registrations.
They are seeking information about the approximately 400 noncitizens they said have been confirmed to have cast ballots, including how many voted by mail, during early in-person voting or at polling places on Election Day; which elections they voted in; and whether any voted in more than one election.
The letter also asks where ballots were cast by improperly registered individuals and how the number of those ballots compared with the certified margins of victory in affected elections or races.
Bucco and DiMaio are requesting details about the responsibilities of IDEMIA, the MVC, the Department of State, Division of Elections and county election officials in reviewing and verifying voter eligibility.
They also want a timeline identifying officials or employees in the Murphy and Sherrill administrations who were aware of the issue before Sherrill was notified, as well as information about when county election officials learned of the registrations.
The lawmakers further asked whether the state has examined registrations involving noncitizens who may have answered “yes” to the citizenship question and whether officials have reviewed registrations outside the June 2023 to June 2024 period.
Their final question seeks the terms and scope of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi’s investigation, including which agencies, officials, vendors, records and time periods will be examined and whether current and former officials and vendor personnel will be interviewed.
“We submit these questions to further a comprehensive review of this matter and to ensure that these issues are addressed with all practicable expediency,” Bucco and DiMaio wrote.
