Democrats concede NJ voter-roll failure was ‘horrible’ — but reject broader fraud fears

Democratic lawmakers told Fox News Digital they agree New Jersey's voter registration error demands accountability but say it doesn't justify claims of widespread election fraud.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday said a "serious software error" led to the mistaken registration of roughly 6,600 noncitizens through the state's Motor Vehicle System, while the company that provides the identity-related security services denied any wrongdoing.

"In New Jersey, we absolutely need to have accountability for what happened," Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said.

"It was just horrible. There was a big problem with that computer problem that they had. We need to try to address that going forward."

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Kim said states should be given the tools to keep voter rolls accurate instead of relying on the Department of Homeland Security's findings after the agency found roughly 250,000 potential noncitizens who may be registered to vote across New Jersey, California, Nevada and Pennsylvania during a preliminary review.

"The main thing is making sure states have what they need," Kim added. "I don't trust the idea that we're just going to mesh it with some DHS database. That's where a lot of the problems come in, but we should all be making sure we're looking out for election integrity."

Sherrill said she immediately ordered an investigation after the error was discovered and that the state's Division of Elections is removing ineligible voters from the rolls. She said fewer than 400 of those improperly registered cast ballots.

Kim said improving election technology and maintaining paper trails need to be a priority.

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"I've been pushing on that. Why don't we get behind that?" he said.

Pointing to state and county officials, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said they must ensure "only those who are eligible to vote, vote."

The comments also come after House Democrats largely opposed a legislative package combining a congressional stock trading ban with federal voter ID measures, as New Jersey's voter registration error reignites debate.

When asked whether the country needs a nationwide proof-of-citizenship requirement for voting, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said President Donald Trump's claims of widespread election fraud are "a figment of his imagination."

"There's no evidence for it, and I'm not going to validate his false narratives," he said.

Despite acknowledging those involved should be "held accountable," Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said noncitizen voting "remains extremely rare."

"I have always said that people should have to prove that they are who they say they are before they vote, and we have systems in place to ensure that happens, which is why noncitizen voting remains extremely rare," he said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the error was "not acceptable" and pointed to Virginia's voter ID requirements and election audits, saying they have never uncovered a noncitizen voting problem.

"We do have an ID requirement in Virginia," he said. "We also have audits of elections, and we've never found there to be a noncitizen voting problem."

Praising Sherrill for coming forward in a "transparent manner," Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said election software should be continuously reviewed.

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"We need to constantly be looking at election software and making sure," she said.

Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., said he supports a "simple" voter ID law but opposed the House GOP bill because he said it went beyond a basic ID requirement.

"If they put up a simple voter ID bill for an up-or-down vote without any of the other bulls--- in it, I would vote for it," he said. "I think a lot of people on both sides would, too. But they keep adding other stuff, like gutting mail ballots, and that was the problem with yesterday's bill."