Michael Smerconish, host of CNN and SiriusXM, admitted on his program that he can no longer assert that noncitizen voting never occurs, following a report from New Jersey revealing that a software error had improperly registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens, of which fewer than 400 cast ballots. Smerconish stated, 'I can’t say that any longer,' acknowledging that while he previously believed noncitizen voting was non-existent, the New Jersey incident challenges that view.
The New York Times had previously published an analysis indicating no widespread illegal voting by noncitizens, but Smerconish noted that the New Jersey case provides a counterpoint for those who argue against the occurrence of such voting. Political analyst Mark Halperin commented that the New Jersey disclosure undermines previous claims about noncitizen voting, but emphasized the need for further information regarding the scale of the issue.
Halperin called for an independent investigation to determine how the registrations occurred and whether similar issues exist elsewhere. New Jersey Governor Mike Sherrill confirmed that the error affected individuals who indicated noncitizenship while applying for driver's licenses or identification cards between June 2023 and June 2024, and ordered the removal of the affected registrations. Sherrill also initiated an investigation and announced plans to replace the vendor involved in the registration process. IDEMIA, the vendor, stated that the responsibility for determining voter eligibility lies with New Jersey election officials. The Justice Department has requested information regarding the registrations and voting records of the affected individuals.