NJ Motor Voter Registration Error: California Says ‘Hold My Beer’

IDEMIA, the software vendor whose alleged glitch enabled 6,600 noncitizens to register to vote in New Jersey, is out with a CYA statement blaming the state. pic.twitter.com/Em5eHYyi4W

— David Wildstein (@wildstein) July 21, 2026

Wildstein reported:

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) is calling for a sweeping federal audit of every government contract involving IDEMIA, the French identity and security software company linked to a glitch that improperly registered approximately 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey.

In a letter sent Tuesday to General Services Administration Administrator Edward Forst and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, Gottheimer said the New Jersey failure raises broader questions about IDEMIA’s software, quality-control practices, and its extensive role in federal identity, biometric, and national security programs.

Thus far, there are no public reports of California congressional members or state lawmakers calling for a federal or state investigation into IDEMIA.

IDEMIA is a French multinational company specializing in biometrics and identity solutions. IDEMIA Public Security North America is the primary software vendor for California’s DMV systems involved in driver license and ID transactions enabling voter registration.

California awarded IDEMIA a major up 12-year contract in 2022, with ongoing expansions for driver’s licenses, IDs, and “DMV reimagined” digital services. This includes technologies for applicant processing, card issuance, mobile tools, fraud reduction, and digital DMV features.

IDEMIA notes that it has provided physical ID cards and technology to California for more than 64 years.

Under California’s Motor Voter program, launched in 2018, prior to the 12-year contract with IDEMIA, DMV transactions integrate voter registration prompts and questions. Eligible applicants are automatically registered unless they opt out, with data sent electronically to the Secretary of State’s VoteCal system. IDEMIA’s software handles the applicant-facing parts of these DMV transactions. 

But there have been California DMV Motor Voter problems since the scheme was implemented.

In 2019, the Globe reported that “the perpetually troubled California DMV rides again right into election law illegalities. It is reported again that hundreds of California voters currently report their party registrations were changed after a routine visit to update a drivers license or make an address change to their DMV.

“Elections officials across the state are linking many of the reported complaints to the state’s new Motor Voter program, which launched ahead of the 2018 midterms to automatically register eligible voters when they visit the DMV,” SacBee.com reported. “The 2015 law was designed to help boost participation, but a rushed launch prompted 105,000 registration errors to occur following its roll-out.”

The Motor Voter program was created for a more nefarious reason than that simplistic description.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed The California New Motor Voter Program into law in 2015, which automatically registers all “eligible” California voters to vote when they obtain or renew their driver’s licenses at the Department of Motor Vehicles, except they’ve not done well with the program.

The Globe continued:

“Since approving the Motor Voter program, reports that the DMV continues to change political party registrations only continues. The Bee reported almost the same story in 2018, but nothing has changed. Many voters want to know why Secretary of State Alex Padilla and the DMV have not corrected this.

Not coincidentally, automatic DMV voter registration under the Motor Voter Program was launched just before the June 2018 primary. It automatically mis-registered 23,000 people that we know of, including many illegal aliens.

California Globe reported that a DMV spokesman admitted the agency had been warned by the federal government that it had violated the two forms of identification requirement to obtain the federally required Real ID. The California DMV issued 2.3 million Real Identification cards to residents who used just a single form of documentation. That means those who obtained the cards will be required to provide a second proof of their identity, but the DMV said not immediately, but only when their ID cards come up for renewal.”

These are all headlines to California Globe’s reporting on the troubles with California DMV:

Assemblyman Wants California DMV To Be as Efficient as AmazonDMV Excuse-Making is Over Now

DMV Enables Massive Voter Fraud in the Golden State

California DMV Audit Pending With Lawmakers Suspicious of Voter Fraud

Legislators Again Protect DMV from Independent Audit

Lawmakers’ Request for Audit of California DMV Killed Despite Suspicion of Election Fraud

Gov. Newsom’s DMV Strike Team Struck Out; DMV System Crashes During Gov’s Press Conference

DMV’s Six Degrees of Separation From the Truth About Voter Fraud in California

DMV Appointments Would No Longer Be Sold Under Bill in State Assembly

DMV’s Latest ‘Unanticipated’ Cost Overrun for the Much Anticipated Voter Registration Act Compliance

Data-Mining California DMV Selling Drivers Personal Data