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Democratic lawmakers told Fox News Digital they agree that New Jersey's voter registration error calls for accountability but say they don't support allegations of voter fraud.
New Jersey Gov. Mike Sherrill said Tuesday that a “major software error” led to the erroneous registration of about 6,600 non-residents through the Motor Vehicle System, while a company that provides security services related to IDs denied any wrongdoing.
“In New Jersey, we really need to be held accountable for what happened,” said Sen. Andy Kim, DN.J..
“It was very bad. There was a big problem with that computer problem they had. We have to try to fix it moving forward.”
THE NEW JERSEY REMOVES 6,600 PEOPLE FROM THE VOTER ROLLS WHO SHOULD HAVE THROWN THE BALL IN THE 2024 ELECTION.
Representative Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, during an election night event in East Brunswick, New Jersey, US, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kim said states should be given tools to keep voter rolls accurate instead of relying on the Department of Homeland Security's findings after the agency found nearly 250,000 potential non-citizens registered to vote across New Jersey, California, Nevada and Pennsylvania during the initial review.
“The important thing is to make sure that the states have what they need,” added Kim. “I don't trust the idea that we're just going to merge it with the DHS database. That's where a lot of the problems come in, but we all have to make sure we're looking at the integrity of the election.”
Sherrill said he immediately ordered an investigation after the error was discovered and that the state election division is removing ineligible voters from the rolls. He said there are less than 400 of those who voted illegally.
Kim said improving election technology and maintaining paper trails must be a priority.
GOP EXPLODES MORE THAN 6,600 VOTERS FOUND IN BLUE SQUARE AS KING DIVES IN: 'WORSE THAN ANYBODY'S INVOLVED'
Current Democratic Senator Andy Kim speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I've been pushing that. Why didn't we react after that?” he said.
Pointing to state and regional officials, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said they need to make sure “not only are they eligible to vote, they vote.”
The comments also come after House Democrats strongly oppose a package of legislation that includes a ban on stock trading and federal voter ID measures, as New Jersey's voter registration error sparks debate.
When asked if the state needs a nationwide requirement for proof of citizenship to vote, Rep. Ritchie Torres, DN.Y., said President Donald Trump's claims of widespread election fraud are “his imagination.”
“There is no proof of that, and I will not confirm his false narrative,” he said.
Despite agreeing that those involved should be “held accountable,” Sen. Rep. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said non-resident voting is “still very rare.”
“I have always said that people must prove that they are who they say they are before they vote, and we have plans in place to ensure that this happens, which is why non-citizen voting remains rare,” he said.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the error was “unacceptable” and pointed to Virginia's voter ID requirements and election checks, which he said never disclosed the problem of non-resident voting.
“We have an ID required in Virginia,” he said. “We also have an audit of the election, and we have never found that there is a problem with non-citizen voting.”
Crediting Sherrill for coming “in a transparent way,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said election software should be regularly updated.
CALIFORNIA ACCUSED OF BLOCKING FEDERAL VOTER ROLL STUDY AS DOJ MONITORES PLOT OF ELECTION FRAUD CLAIMS
A voter casts his vote at the polling station. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We have to keep checking the election software and make sure,” he said.
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Rep. Seth Magaziner, D.R.I., said he supported the “simple” voter ID law but opposed the House GOP bill because he said it went beyond the basic ID requirement.
“If they put in a simple voter ID bill that goes up and down without these other bulls— on it, I will vote for it,” he said. “I think a lot of people on both sides would do that too. But they keep adding other things, like looking for postal votes, and that was the problem with yesterday's bill.”
