Attention Green Card Holders! If This Letter Arrives at Your Home, Do Not Ignore It.

In New Jersey, about 6,600 people who declared they were not U.S. citizens had their voter registrations created due to a system error, bringing to the forefront an important issue for Green Card holders.

An error in the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) system brought to light an important issue, particularly for Green Card holders.In the interview given to NYPost New York Representative Özlem Özgüt Yörekli, attorney Ibrahim F. Çaglar explained the details of the process, stating that some Green Card holders who applied for a driver's license through the MVC between June 2023 and June 2024, despite indicating they were not U.S. citizens, were added to the voter registry.

According to the information provided by Çaglar, approximately 6,600 people were affected by the incident.

"They said 'I am not a citizen,' and were added to the voter registry"

The most striking aspect of the incident is that there was no false claim that the individuals were U.S. citizens.

In an interview, Çağlar explained that Green Card holders answered "No" to the citizenship question posed to them by the MVC, yet voter registrations were created due to a software error in the system.

Çağlar noted that approximately 6,600 people who correctly declared "I am not a citizen" were transferred into the voter system in this manner, stating that the issue stemmed from a system error rather than the individuals' statements.

Official letters began to be sent to households.

After the error was detected, informational letters were sent to the affected individuals.

According to Çağlar, the letters are sent by both the New Jersey MVC and the New Jersey Department of State. The letters inform recipients that, despite declaring themselves non‑citizens, they were registered as voters due to a software error and will be unable to vote.

However, Çağlar says the main point to focus on is the steps to be taken after the letters are received.

Attorney Çağlar warned: Do not discard these letters.

Responding to U.S. Post New York Representative Özlem Özgüt Yörekli’s question, “What should people who receive these letters do?” Çağlar said that keeping the documents as evidence is extremely important.

Çağlar advised Green Card holders in New Jersey who encounter this situation to scan the letters, email themselves digital copies, share them with their attorneys, and also keep the original documents.

He also said that the person should notify the relevant agencies that they are not a U.S. citizen and request deletion of the erroneous voter registration. He stressed the importance of keeping the notification and correction request on record for future verification.

It will appear in your citizenship application.

One of Çağlar’s most striking warnings was that an erroneous voter registration could surface in a future U.S. citizenship application.

Çağlar explained that Green Card holders submit the N‑400 form after completing the required residency period and other conditions for citizenship, and that past immigration applications and statements are also reviewed during the process.

He noted that the N‑400 form contains questions about whether the applicant has previously declared themselves an American citizen, whether they have registered as a voter, and whether they have voted.

Consequently, Çağlar warned that even a record created without the person's knowledge years ago could surface during the citizenship process, saying, 'When you apply for citizenship, it will come up,' and advised keeping official correspondence.

The status of voters will be evaluated separately.

In the interview, the issue of accidental voter registration and the status of those who voted under that registration were raised. According to information Çağlar relayed during the interview, about 400 people were recorded as having voted.

However, Çağlar emphasized that it is not possible to make a single legal assessment covering everyone regarding these individuals' situations. Stating that each file must be examined within its own circumstances, he said that making an accurate statement during the citizenship application and correctly explaining the events is of great importance.

Voter registration and citizenship declaration are not the same

Çağlar also drew attention to two important points that must be distinguished in the citizenship process. One is whether the person has previously declared themselves as a U.S. citizen, and the other concerns their history with voter registration or abstaining from voting.

According to Çağlar, the legal consequences of these two situations are not the same. He noted that falsely declaring oneself as a U.S. citizen could have serious immigration repercussions, and emphasized that Green Card holders must answer questions truthfully in their citizenship applications, a matter of critical importance.

What happens if a citizenship application has already been filed?

In the interview, Özlem Özgüt Yörekli asked Çağlar what a person who has already filed a citizenship application and answered “No” to the voter registration question should do if they later receive this letter.

Çağlar pointed out that a person could only learn of a voter registration created without their knowledge after receiving the letter, and advised that in such a case the matter be clearly reported to the relevant citizenship authority.

The person said that it would be more accurate to explain the situation earlier with the official letter in hand, rather than waiting for the officer to bring it up during the citizenship interview.

What should Green Card holders do?

According to lawyer İbrahim F. Çağlar’s statements to ABDPost, people who discover that a voter registration has been created in their name despite not being U.S. citizens must not ignore the issue.

Çağlar recommends keeping the received letters and other official documents, creating digital copies, notifying the relevant state authorities and the MVC that one is not a citizen, requesting deletion of the erroneous voter registration, and documenting all actions taken.

Çağlar’s warning stands out, especially for Green Card holders who plan to apply for citizenship in the future, noting that these documents could become important years later: even if the erroneous registration was created against the person’s will, documenting the steps taken to correct it from the moment the issue is discovered is of great importance.

Lawyer İbrahim Çağlar Contact Information:

Instagram:@icaglarpllc

www.caglarpllc.com

100 Church St, Suite 800, New York, New York 10007