US voter registration and naturalization concerns rise ahead of midterms

Significant shifts in immigration and voter registration processes are drawing scrutiny in the United States ahead of the midterm elections. Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows a sharp decline in naturalization approvals during the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. Approvals dropped to approximately 57,700, a substantial decrease from the 200,000 to 240,000 range seen in the same period during 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, the backlog of pending naturalization applications has surged to over 742,000.

In New Jersey, a controversy has emerged regarding the erroneous registration of approximately 6,600 individuals who claimed they were not U.S. citizens. The error originated from an automated voter registration system within the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission between June 2023 and June 2024. While the state reports the software issue was fixed in mid-2024, the error was not publicly disclosed until July 2026.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has issued subpoenas to New Jersey state officials, demanding documentation to explain how the errors occurred and why the voter rolls were not cleaned sooner. State officials have defended their actions, stating that corrective measures are underway and that the congressional inquiries may be politically motivated.