Non-U.S. Citizen Turkish Journalist Selected as Jury for New Jersey Courts

ABDPost New York Representative Özlem Özgüt Yörekli announced that, despite not being an ABD citizen, she received a jury summons from New Jersey courts. Yörekli, who said a formal document bearing a unique jury number was sent to her, detailed her experience in a video she posted.

Yörekli began her statement with, 'I want to give you a very important warning today.' She emphasized that non-U.S. citizens cannot serve on juries under state law. Yörekli, who said she filed a tax return and applied for a driver's license, stated that she declared she was not an ABD citizen in both transactions.

6,600-people Voter Registration Error

While investigating the possible reasons for the jury summons she received, Yörekli recalled the earlier voter registration issue in New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, in a statement on July 21, 2026, announced that between June 2023 and June 2024, about 6,600 people were recorded as voters in the system despite indicating they were not citizens.

According to the governor, the error occurred in the Motor Vehicles Commission's (MVC) software system. Information from individuals who indicated they were not ABD citizens during driver's license or ID card applications was transferred to voter registration processes due to a technical glitch in the system.

Yörekli recalled that she had also raised the issue in a previous broadcast with Turkish lawyer İbrahim Çağlar in the ABD, suggesting that there might be a link between the error and her own experience.

Number of Non‑Registered Voters Who Cast Votes Revealed

According to the first review by the New Jersey Department of State, fewer than 400 of the individuals who were first recorded as voters due to the error cast a ballot. The department announced on July 28 that work had begun to correct the affected records. An August 19 update reported that about 340 people from that group had voted.

In the latest statement released on October 7, it was noted that the registration processes in the MVC system were examined more thoroughly and that roughly 750 additional records required further action. The department clarified that these extra records were linked to a system error concerning age eligibility, not citizenship issues. The investigation into the initial error is still ongoing.

What Should Be Done If Jury Summons Are Sent to Non‑Citizens?

Yörekli urged individuals who, like him, are not U.S. citizens yet receive a jury duty summons to examine the official documents carefully. According to the official rules of New Jersey courts, U.S. citizenship is a requirement for jury service.

Yörekli said that those summoned for jury duty should accurately report their citizenship status when filling out the eligibility form and follow the instructions and deadlines in the notice. He advised that if questions arise, they should contact the court’s jury division or a lawyer.

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Critical Warning to Those Receiving Voter Registration Notifications

Yörekli, who also addressed those who received an unexpected notification about voter registration, advised keeping the documents and taking photos of the papers. He urged people who think they are registered as voters despite not being citizens to contact the New Jersey Election Office or the registration officer of their district to verify their status.

Yörekli emphasized that non-U.S. citizens should not vote, and advised those who may have voted by mistake to consult an immigration lawyer. He noted that voting in violation of citizenship requirements could have serious legal consequences.

Call to Those Receiving Similar Notifications!

At the end of his video, Yörekli addressed people living in New Jersey who, despite not being citizens, received jury summons or voter registration notifications. Yörekli, who asked those encountering similar situations to share their experiences in the comments, called for the incidents to be tracked together.