Sherrill open to voter ID, but calls SAVE Act ‘voter suppression’

Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Wednesday that she is open to requiring identification to vote in New Jersey but remains strongly opposed to the federal SAVE Act, which she described as a voter-suppression measure.

“I don’t have a problem with voter ID,” Sherrill said during an appearance on News 12’s Ask Governor Sherrill. “Certainly, if that was the law passed here, I would support that.”

Sherrill drew a sharp distinction between a state voter ID requirement and the SAVE Act, federal legislation that would require people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

“I’m very opposed to the SAVE Act,” she said. “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, which I’m opposed to.”

The issue has gained considerable attention following Sherrill’s disclosure that a software error at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission caused roughly 6,600 noncitizens to be improperly added to the voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024.  Fewer than 400 of them cast ballots.

She said the vendor, IDEMIA, is responsible for the alleged glitch; the company says it’s not their fault.

Sherrill also said she does not expect voter registration to be removed from the MVC unless lawmakers decide to change New Jersey’s Motor Voter law.

“I doubt it will, unless anything’s turned up that I haven’t seen evidence of yet,” she said.

Asked whether the decision would rest with the legislature, Sherrill said lawmakers “could, I guess, pass a law.”