EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the latest edition of a weekly newsletter on the beginning of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's tenure and the often-stormy politics surrounding her. You can subscribe here.
Two big questions about the future of Jersey's voting laws have emerged in the aftermath of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's recent disclosure that thousands of noncitizens in the state were erroneously registered to vote a few years back, about 400 of whom cast ballots:
1. Could the blue state actually pass a voter ID law, especially after Sherrill stunned people from both parties last week by saying she's open to it? That's not something you usually hear from a Democrat.
2. Will the state overhaul its long-scrutinized law allowing people to be automatically registered to vote when applying for a driver's license? That's the system at the center of this controversy.
I've chatted with political leaders and insiders about the prospects of both — with the consensus being "not so fast" on the first question and "more likely" on the second. But let's start with No. 1.
During her latest call-in TV show on News 12, a resident asked Sherrill whether she'd support a law in Jersey requiring people to show ID at the polls — a subject that's sparked debate all over the country for years.
"Certainly if that was the law passed here, I would support that," the first-year governor (and moderate Dem) replied. "I don't have a problem with voter ID."
Sherrill also stressed she's "very opposed" to the SAVE America Act, the bill Republican President Donald Trump wants Congress to pass to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in America, among other restrictions. Trump says the measure is needed to secure the country's elections, though statistics show widespread voter fraud is rare. And Jersey's noncitizen voting discovery has amplified the GOP's push, though Sherrill says Jersey's error did not sway any races.
Critics say Trump's proposal would make voting harder for eligible Americans who don't have access to the documents they'd need and those who have changed their name. "I do believe that is just a tool of voter suppression and an attempt to get all of the personal identifying information of New Jerseyans into the federal government systems," Sherrill said.
Sherrill didn't specify what kind of voter ID law she'd be comfortable with. Nor did she say she would actively lobby the Democratic-controlled state Legislature for one.
And her office hasn't clarified. Spokesman Sean Higgins said only that the governor served in the Navy and elected office "because she believes in every citizen's right to participate in our democracy by voting." He added she has "stood firm against MAGA Republicans' voter suppression attempts" and recently signed a law to expand voting rights in the state.
"Governor Sherrill supports the current rules requiring ID for voter registration and she is open to considering proposals to strengthen those to make sure we have the strongest, fairest elections in the nation," Higgins said.
Jersey Republicans — the minority party in Trenton — renewed their years-long call for voter ID immediately after Sherrill's announcement last month about noncitizens voting. And her comments on TV last week gave at least a sliver of hope the topic could now gain traction.
GOP state Sen. Mike Testa said he was "pretty shocked" by the governor's stance. "Certainly, it looks like there is a crack where some light can get in."
He urged the Legislature to convene a special summer session on the matter.
"I think (voter ID) would go a very long way to restoring confidence in our electoral process," Testa added, echoing one of the longstanding arguments for proponents of the idea.
One GOP insider told me: "I think (Sherrill) might regret saying that in the moment."
For context: Sherrill announced a "serious software error" at the state Motor Vehicle Commission caused about 6,600 noncitizens to be registered to vote when they applied for driver's licenses during then-Gov. Phil Murphy's tenure. Sherrill said they identified themselves as noncitizens, but the system registered them to vote anyway. She said fewer than 400 people ultimately voted illegally. (The vendor behind the system, IDEMIA, says there was no glitch and it was the state's job to check.)
An NJ.com report last week noted those numbers are tiny compared to the state's 6.6 million registered voters — and experts agree this likely didn't affect elections. Sherrill also said the state is purging voter rolls of noncitizens and a law firm is conducting an independent investigation.
Officials in both parties, though, have told me they believe the number of noncitizens registered to vote in Jersey could be higher, noting the error Sherrill revealed happened only from June 2023 to June 2024. Politico reported the same bipartisan concerns. The Trump administration has estimated 35,000 noncitizens are on the rolls here. The Sherrill administration disputes that.
Polls show Americans generally support voter ID. A 2025 Pew Research survey found 95% of Republicans, 83% of independents, and 71% of Democrats back the broad concept of voters presenting a government-issued photo ID.
Federal law requires voters in all state to provide a driver's license or Social Security number to register to vote.
But only 36 states have some form of ID requirement at the polls. Jersey is among the 14 that don't.
Testa has a bill that would require showing a driver's license, REAL ID, passport, or official non-driver ID in the Garden State. State Sen. Parker Space and state Assemblyman Gerald Scharfenberger, both Republicans, have a similar bill that would allow people to present a utility bill or mortgage statement.
But numerous sources tell me there's still probably not much appetite among Dem lawmakers for a voter ID bill and it likely wouldn't have enough votes to pass.
Opponents have long said requiring identification at registration is enough and requiring ID at the polls would place an extra, unnecessary hurdle on some voters who don't have the ability or means to have one — especially people of color, as well as younger, older, and rural residents. They argue most IDs aren't free and passports are expensive.
David Becker, founder of the nonpartisan and nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research, also emphasizes that voter ID "wouldn't have done anything about the problem in New Jersey. People who showed up were truthful, showed the right documents, and were registered by administrative error."
"If you think about photo ID, the main kind of fraud it would prevent is voter impersonation," he added. Becker noted that's the rarest kind of fraud.
Assembly Democratic Majority Leader Lou Greenwald said he hasn't had "a single conversation" with fellow lawmakers about taking up a voter ID bill. "You want to make it not more difficult for registered voters who are citizens to vote."
"A single vote for someone not a citizen is too many," Greenwald added. "But you want to do this in the most efficient way."
Democratic state Sen. Andrew Zwicker said it depends on what Sherrill means by voter ID. "Anything that's a requirement would have to be looked at very carefully on whether it would disenfranchise eligible voters."
The two Dems who lead the Legislature, Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, ultimately decide which bills come up for a vote. Asked to comment on the possibility of voter ID, Scutari's team pointed to a statement he made last month saying legislative leaders would review the findings of the state's probe into the noncitizen voting error and then "identify any necessary next steps."
Coughlin had a similar statement, though his office declined to comment on voter ID.
Republicans aren't holding their breath. "I'll believe it when I see it," Scharfenberger said, adding that Sherrill's remarks could be "damage control" as the GOP is declaring "aha, we knew it all along." Space said Dems "pander to the far left."
Meanwhile, a coalition of advocacy groups sent Sherrill a letter last Friday urging her to reject voter ID, saying "while these laws may seem reasonable or benign at first glance, the truth is they actively harm voters." That came just days after Sherrill stood alongside many of the same advocates during an event at a Trenton church celebrating her signing of the "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act."
"Elections are fair and safe," said Nuzhat Chowdhury, director of the Democracy and Justice program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, one of the groups that signed the letter. "Voter fraud is not happening at the scales the opposing side claims it's happening. You disenfranchise voters for something that addresses a problem that doesn't really exist."
Testa, the Republican lawmaker, said it's "such a pompous argument" because you need identification to rent a car or hotel room. Scharfenberger said it's "demeaning and quite frankly it's racist to say one group would struggle to have an ID to vote. It's just a lame excuse."
Chowdhury countered: "Yes, you do have to show ID to rent a car, go to Costco. That's why not everyone can do it. A lot of people don't do it because there is a financial barrier."
"This is a right if you are of age, if you are a citizen. There should no membership on voting."
One Dem legislative insider said Sherrill's comments were "the most ridiculous, horrible idea. We are legitimizing an issue that has no weight whatsoever. I was certainly disappointed by it. More disappointing is she hasn't said anything since then."
Another thought is this could hurt Sherrill with the left flank of her party — after she already angered progressives by sending in the State Police during protests at Delaney Hall.
One Dem insider scoffed at that notion, saying Sherrill "wants to align with the public and not necessarily advocates." But one fear, the insider said, is this could have a "dampening effect" on lawmakers' own elections next year — when all 120 seats in the Legislature are on the ballot — because Dems have struggled in the state with voters of color. "Some folks are questioning whether she thought through the implications for her own re-election," the source added.
Still, Ben Dworkin, director of the Rowan University Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship, said Jersey's governorship is the nation's most powerful. "If the governor wants something, they won't randomly mention it. ... She's letting the Legislature take the lead on it, while positioning herself clearly where a lot of people find themselves."
Another Dem operative said Sherrill's remarks were "brilliant" because the SAVE America Act is "all about voter suppression" and not voter ID. "She's the first Dem I've seen to come out and call their bluff. It should be a voter ID law."
Is there a middle-ground voter ID law in a blue state that could provide a blueprint for Jersey? Becker, the elections expert, pointed to Michigan. The law there says if you don't have your ID, you fill out an affidavit saying that you are eligible, under penalty of perjury if it's not true.
"It's proven to be very effective to increase trust in the process while not actually resulting in disenfranchisement," said Becker, a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney.
This brings us to Question No. 2 — possible changes to Jersey's automatic voter registration system. Officials from both parties agreed that hasn more potential than installing voter ID.
Murphy, a Democrat, signed a law in 2018 allowing Jerseyans to be automatically registered to vote when they apply for a driver's license through the state Motor Vehicle Commission — something supporters said would expand voting rights. A year later, Murphy signed a law allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. Republicans warned that combination was rife for problems.
GOP leaders are now calling for a revamp of the law. "To conflate the MVC mission with voter registration is a recipe for disaster," Scharfenberger said. "I'd rather MVC concentrate on its core mission."
Even Democrats admit the system is flawed and could use tweaks.
The problem, critics say, is it's all based on an "honor system." When people apply for licenses on an electronic pad at the MVC, they are simply asked if they are citizens and then if they want to decline being registered to vote.
Even before Sherrill announced the problem, Dem state Sen. James Beach and Republican state Sen. Kristin Corrado introduced a bill that would change the system to ensure someone who indicates they're not a U.S. citizen isn't then prompted by the system to register to vote.
Greenwald, the Assembly Dem leader, said that measure would have resolved "99.999% of this" and there's a "chance" of legislation like that advancing now.
Beth Thompson, the Hunterdon County Board of Elections administrator and president of the New Jersey Association of Election Officials, told me: "We don't require proof of citizenship, we require a declaration. Our statewide voter registration system will not change for us unless there's a change requiring proof of citizenship."
Thompson noted part of the problem is there may be language barriers with noncitizens who don't speak English or Spanish and don't "understand what they're filling out."
She added that while voter ID is "great in concept," it's "not gonna fix this problem" and is a separate issue that "should be addressed separately."
One Dem legislative insider said the next steps are unclear until the state's investigation uncovers what happened. "If the problem is automatic voter registration, we can address that. If the problem is just a coding glitch, that's a different solution."
Another party strategist looks at it this way: "I see lots of opportunity for MVC reform. It's like playing 'The Macarena' at a wedding. You do it every chance you get."
VOTING CONTROVERSY UPDATE: Fallout from Gov. Mikie Sherrill's announcement that thousands of noncitizens registered to vote in Jersey continues to reverberate both here and in D.C. Two top U.S. House Republicans — Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis. — sent a letter to the state demanding documents related to the issue. "The Committees are concerned about the application of federal law in New Jersey as it pertains to accurate voter registration, as well as the effect that New Jersey's failure to identify and remove noncitizens from its voter rolls has on the civil liberties of American voters and their ability to elect their representatives," they wrote, giving the state until Aug. 17 to respond. Sherrill rejected similar requests from the U.S. Department of Justice. She has argued the state is conducting its own internal investigation, is purging its voter rolls of noncitizens, and Republicans are politicizing the matter. Meanwhile, some Republicans are now calling this "Votergate."
R.I.P. COUNTY LINE: The county line is dead — officially. Two years after U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi struck down Jersey's unique and controversial primary ballot system, the final county clerk fighting it in court — Bergen County's John Hogan — this week became the last to settle. A quick refresher on a complicated topic: Both New Jersey Working Families and then-U.S. Senate candidate Andy Kim filed lawsuits against "the line," which for years gave candidates endorsed by county parties an advantageous spot on primary ballots. The judge sided with Kim (now a senator) and the state Legislature passed and then-Gov. Phil Murphy enacted a law last year replacing the ballot design. But county clerks appealed. Now the issue is done. Kim celebrated that "power is being returned to the people" but stressed that "the fight to fix" Jersey politics marches on. Hogan accused Kim and his fellow plaintiffs of winning "a purely political lawsuit brought to benefit their political strategy." Critics have said the fall of the system has led to more money flowing into elections. One Dem legislative source stressed that lawmakers already "moved on" by installing a new system. "That page turned for us quite a long time ago."
MURPHY'S PRICEY PORTRAIT: Jersey remembers its governors by hanging portrait paintings of them in the halls of the Statehouse in Trenton — and Phil Murphy's will soon have the biggest price tag. Politico reported that the most recent former governor will be painted by a renowned portrait artist and cost taxpayers $135,000, the most of any gubernatorial portrait in state history. It's more than the Democrat's three immediate predecessors combined, and it comes after Republican former Gov. Chris Christie drew headlines when his painting cost $85,000 in 2018. That's $113,000 in today's dollars.
GUN RULING UPDATE: The bans are back on, for now. After a panel of federal judges recently overturned Jersey's prohibition on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, a federal judge just granted the state's request to keep the laws in place as the case proceeds. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take up the issue next. State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the state is thrilled, saying the decision provides "much-needed stability on the ground" and stressing "we will continue to stand up for common-sense gun-safety laws in court."
FORK BAN: In case you missed it, Jersey's ban plastic utensils went into effect Aug. 1. Specifically, it bars restaurants in the state from handing out single-use plastic forks, knives, and spoons unless customers ask for them. Democrats say it will help the environment. Republicans continue to mock it. And it comes after a similar ban on plastic straws, which took effect in 2021.
SHERRILL'S ENDORSEMENTS: Sherrill's political action committee, Mission to Deliver, announced Thursday the governor has endorsed a slate of fellow military veterans running for Congress in this year's midterms. The PAC also announced Sherrill will travel out of state to campaign for some of the contenders in the coming months. Expect it to be seen as the latest sign Sherrill is positioning herself on the national stage — and possibly for a national post. In one notable endorsement, Sherrill is backing U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton over incumbent U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts competitive Senate primary.
VETERAN ADVOCATE: Sherrill nominated Michael Embrich, a fellow U.S. Navy veteran, to become Jersey's first-ever veterans advocate. Embrich — a former policy advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs — is set to lead the state Office of the Veteran Advocate, launched in 2025 to help the state's current and former military members and their families. "New Jersey's veterans deserve a strong, independent voice focused entirely on their well-being and on ensuring government delivers the care, services, and support they have earned," Sherrill said. "Michael has spent his career fighting for veterans and military families at every level of government." He still needs to be confirmed by the state Senate.
WANNA HEAR MORE? I spoke about the latest news in Jersey politics on NJ PBS's "Reporters Roundtable" and David Cruz's "Presscore."
✍️ NorthJersey.com columnist Charles Stile explored how the noncitizen voting scandal is shaking up Jersey politics right now for both Republicans and Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
✍️ Alan Steinberg broke down his thoughts on the implications of of both Trump's presidency and antisemitism from the left.
🔥 NJ.com's latest Friendly Fire looked at how Sherrill's first six months stacked up.
⚖️ Jersey just gave kids a powerful voice in custody battles — and courtrooms are already divided. (NJ.com)
🚆 Thousands of World Cup fans found a way to sidestep steep train fares and parking fees. (NJ.com)
🏛️ Some lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require education and an apology for slavery in Jersey. (NorthJersey.com)
🛡️ The state is suing to block President Donald Trump's administration from sharing welfare recipients' data with federal agencies. (The Jersey Vindicator)
🎰 Jersey voters won't decide on adding casinos at the Meadowlands or Monmouth Park this November after all. (NorthJersey.com)
🗳️ At the same time, redistricting reform won't appear on Jersey ballots this year — or likely next. (Politico)
💸 The state's pension fund is continuing its winning streak and staying on track for strong returns. (NJ Spotlight News)
📢 Workers and retirees are urging Jersey's pension fund to consider more than just the bottom line. (NJ Spotlight News)
💻 Hackers targeting utilities nationwide also hit the state's water systems in a wave of cyberattacks. (NJ.com)
⚡ Jersey's nuclear plan would fill only half the state's looming power shortage. (NorthJersey.com)
📦 The state is suing Amazon over what is says are grueling conditions and wage suppression at Jersey facilities. (NJ.com)
🌨️ The Trump administration's decision to reject a Jersey disaster aid request after a winter storm is drawing scrutiny from U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and other Dems. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
🗣️ Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker told a Trump nominee to "be a man" during a heated hearing. (NJ.com)
🚔 A state program is tackling police suicides amid what experts call a national epidemic. (NJ.com)
🗳️ Democratic former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski is calling on progressives to confront the far left after Abdul El-Sayed's recent victory. (New Jersey Globe)
💼 Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is facing questions about his stock portfolio and potential conflicts as he runs in a tight re-election race. (Politico)
Protesters speak out against Delaney Hall ICE 'dungeon' a week after detainee death Aug. 9, 2026, 7:43 a.m.
What Trenton thinks about Sherrill as she hits 6 months as governor | Mikie's WorldAug. 7, 2026, 8:01 p.m.
💰 A federal judge just issued a key ruling on whether the bag-of-cash corruption case can proceed fairly. (NJ.com)
Two people who once worked together on the New York Jets are now running against each other for an open congressional seat in Arizona: former placekicker Jay Feely and Amish Shah, who was the team's doctor when Feely was on the roster. Feely, also a former New York Giant, is the Republican, Shah the Democrat. Of course, the Jets, despite their name, have their facility in Florham Park and play their games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
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