The Republican National Committee (RNC) and state GOP leaders filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking court‑ordered disclosure of voter‑roll maintenance records that they say New Jersey election officials have refused to provide. The suit targets the state’s Secretary of State, who oversees elections, and county election officials in Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
RNC claims non‑citizen registrations on the rolls
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said the party uncovered “hundreds of non‑citizens” on New Jersey’s voter registries after an investigation earlier this year. He added that the records the state is withholding would reveal how those registrations occurred. “Garden State voters deserve the truth, and we’re taking these left‑wing officials to court to demand answers,” Gruters said in a statement.
According to the RNC, the state produced some documents but failed to turn over key records required by federal law to be made public. The lawsuit seeks to compel the release of those documents so the party can determine whether ineligible voters were added and whether they have since been removed.
Background and prior actions
The RNC first reported the alleged non‑citizen registrations in June, noting that some migrants who had applied for naturalization self‑attested as non‑citizens yet were found to have voted in prior elections. The party also cited instances where individuals claimed lack of U.S. citizenship to avoid jury duty but were later discovered to be registered voters.
New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill acknowledged the presence of illegal registrations, estimating that more than 6,600 non‑citizens were on the rolls. Republican leaders, however, argue that state Democrats have avoided accountability for the issue.
Legal and political implications
The RNC’s lawsuit joins a broader, nationwide effort by its multimillion‑dollar election‑integrity unit to secure voter‑roll maintenance records from 48 states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The party says the withheld records are also of interest to congressional investigators in Washington who are examining similar registration failures.
Joining the RNC and the New Jersey Republican Party as plaintiffs are Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R‑N.J., and New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco. Kean said, “New Jerseyans deserve complete transparency following Gov. Sherrill’s admission that over 6,600 non‑citizens were added to our voter rolls. Fair elections require total public accountability.”
What’s at stake for voters
If the court orders the release of the requested documents, New Jersey voters could gain insight into how the alleged illegal registrations occurred and whether corrective actions have been taken. The RNC argues that transparency is essential to protect the integrity of the ballot box.
The lawsuit also underscores the ongoing partisan battle over election administration, with Republicans accusing Democratic officials of concealing information and Democrats defending their handling of voter‑registration processes.
Both sides await the court’s decision, which could set a precedent for how states handle voter‑roll maintenance disclosures in the lead‑up to future elections.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
