Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, has argued that the recent discovery of approximately 6,600 noncitizens mistakenly eligible to vote in the state does not justify the passage of the SAVE America Act. According to Booker, the error is unrelated to a lack of federal voter ID requirements and would not have been prevented by the proposed legislation.
The issue came to light as a result of a "serious software error" in New Jersey's Motor Vehicle System, which led to noncitizens being listed as eligible to vote in the 2024 presidential election. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill has ordered an investigation into the matter and has taken steps to remove the noncitizens from the voter rolls.
Booker has been a vocal opponent of the SAVE Act, which he refers to as a "massive voter suppression bill." Democrats opposing the legislation argue that requiring all voters to provide in-person citizen documentation will halt millions of Americans from being eligible to vote in elections.
Despite his opposition to the SAVE Act, Booker has stated that election requirements "should always have proof of citizenship for voting." However, he believes this should be handled at the state level, even in federal elections. He argued that the states should handle voting problems and violations of the law, and that individuals should be prosecuted accordingly.
The discovery in New Jersey highlights the lack of a national standard for identifying or reporting errors in voting systems. This makes it difficult to determine the scope of the issue. Republicans supporting the SAVE Act argue that the legislation would help resolve and expose these issues.
Booker expressed concerns that the issue in New Jersey is being "weaponized" by some individuals to advance schemes that would harm American citizens. He emphasized the importance of protecting the state's voting systems and ensuring that those responsible for the error are held accountable.
