New York Republicans are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrats to review the state’s voter registration process after thousands of non-U.S. citizens were recently discovered to have been inadvertently registered to vote in a neighboring state.
After a software issue in New Jersey that registered as many as 6,600 non-U.S. citizens to vote in 2023 and 2024, with less than 400 of them casting ballots, was revealed by that state’s governor on July 21, dozens of Republican lawmakers in New York immediately signed on to letters sent to Hochul and chairs of two Assembly committees calling for a closer look.
“These revelations are deeply troubling and raise legitimate concerns for New York,” the letter sent by Senate Republicans to Hochul said.
Here’s what to know.
What happened in New Jersey?
While applying for driver licenses and identification cards through New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission, noncitizens who indicated they weren’t U.S. citizens were registered to vote anyway, USA TODAY Network reported.
Since then, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said the state has mailed letters to those impacted and their Division of Elections has started removing more than 4,500 individuals who were registered as a result of the software error as well as reviewing remaining registrations.
New Jersey, along with more than half of U.S. states and territories, uses French company IDEMIA as its vendor for identity-related security services. Sherrill previously said New Jersey would be transitioning to a new vendor.
Does New York use the same vendor for voter registration?
While New York does utilize IDEMIA for statewide enrollment services, automated fingerprint ID systems and mobile biometric checks and LiveScan devices, according to the company’s website, the state Board of Elections says it does not use the vendor or any other third-party vendors for voter registration purposes.
“There is no indication of a similar issue here, because New York State does not use any similar external vendor when processing voter registrations,” a spokesperson for the agency said. “The voter registration process in New York State is different than in New Jersey, and therefore New York State voter registration is not subject to a software issue like the one that has been reported in New Jersey.”
The Board of Elections also noted that even though individuals can register to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, it’s a separate, multi-step process. Those wishing to complete a voter registration application must confirm their U.S. citizenship first, and if someone answers “no” to the citizenship question, their ability to register to vote shuts down and no data is entered or transmitted to the Board of Elections.
Additionally, New York requires review of the information on the voter registration application form by bipartisan election officials before a voter can be registered in the state, the agency says.
What election security measures are Republican lawmakers in New York asking for?
Assembly Republicans in New York want the convening of a joint oversight hearing “to examine the integrity, security, and fiscal oversight of New York State’s voter registration systems,” 38 members said in a letter addressed to Ways and Means Committee Chair J. Gary Pretlow and Election Law Committee Chair Latrice Walker on July 22.
According to the letter, IDEMIA currently holds 44 contracts with state agencies totaling around $579.5 million, with DMV-specific contracts totaling around $24.5 million of that amount.
“While there is no evidence at this time that New York has experienced a similar failure, the shared vendor relationship, together with the substantial public investment in this technology, warrants prompt legislative oversight to determine whether comparable vulnerabilities exist within New York’s voter registration process and whether sufficient safeguards are in place to prevent similar errors,” the letter states.
And Senate Republicans are using New Jersey’s uncovered voter registration error to continue their push for election security reforms in New York.
Specifically, the 18 members who signed the July 23 letter to Hochul want the state’s Green Light Law, which allows non-U.S. citizens 16 or older to get their driver’s license in New York, repealed, a voter ID requirement to be enacted, a complete audit of the state’s voter rolls to be conducted and “any future legislation that would create vulnerabilities in the election process” to be vetoed.
“We urge you to work with our conference to pass common sense election reforms that will ensure our elections are secure without placing burdensome barriers on New Yorkers who are lawfully entitled to vote in our elections,” the letter added.
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Following NJ error, NY lawmakers seek audit of voter registration process
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
