House Republicans are intensifying their investigation into New Jersey’s voter-registration problems after Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s response to congressional questions drew criticism from GOP lawmakers.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., said Republicans are preparing to hold a congressional hearing, seek additional records and potentially consider subpoenas if New Jersey officials do not provide the information lawmakers have requested.
The investigation follows revelations that thousands of people who were identified as noncitizens were improperly added to New Jersey’s voter-registration system. State officials have attributed the registrations to an error involving the Motor Vehicle Commission.
House Republicans Demand Answers From New Jersey
The latest escalation follows a July 24 letter from Republican lawmakers that included 12 questions about how the registration problem occurred, its potential impact and the steps being taken to prevent similar errors.
Van Drew said Sherrill’s response did not adequately address those questions. He criticized the governor for what he characterized as a political response rather than a substantive explanation of the state’s election procedures.
“We're not done with this,” Van Drew said, signaling that Republicans intend to continue pressing the administration for additional information.
The House Judiciary Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee, which Van Drew chairs, is expected to hold a hearing featuring expert witnesses as lawmakers examine the registration failures.
Sherrill Defends State’s Handling of Voter Rolls
Sherrill has defended her administration’s response, saying New Jersey has taken steps to correct registrations that were made in error.
In an earlier update, the governor said approximately 5,100 registrations had been placed in deleted status because officials could not find additional eligibility attestations. Another roughly 1,450 registrations were placed in rejected status while county officials review supporting documentation.
State officials have also said that just under 400 people who were improperly registered cast ballots in recent elections.
Sherrill has argued that her administration is focused on correcting problems inherited from the previous administration while protecting the voting rights of eligible New Jersey residents.
Dispute Intensifies Over Trump Administration Role
The investigation has also become part of a broader political clash between Sherrill and President Donald Trump’s administration over election security.
Federal officials have criticized Sherrill’s response, while the governor and her representatives have accused Republicans and the Trump administration of using the issue for political purposes.
The disagreement comes as Republicans nationally push for stricter election safeguards and greater verification of voter eligibility ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The debate over noncitizen voting has become increasingly prominent, although independent reporting and election officials have emphasized that confirmed noncitizen voting remains uncommon.
Potential Subpoenas Could Raise Pressure on Sherrill
Van Drew has indicated that Republicans could seek subpoenas if state officials fail to provide the records and information requested by Congress.
The potential hearing would give lawmakers an opportunity to question election experts and examine how New Jersey’s voter-registration system allowed ineligible registrations to occur.
For Sherrill, the controversy presents both an administrative challenge and a growing political fight. Republicans say the public deserves a full accounting of what went wrong, while Democrats argue that the state is already taking corrective action.
With the congressional inquiry moving toward hearings and possible additional demands for records, the dispute over New Jersey’s voter rolls is entering a new phase just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
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