Oregon’s voter registration process is under scrutiny after an audit uncovered errors in the automatic registration of non-citizens.
At a Glance
- Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has paused automatic voter registration to address registration errors.
- An audit found 1,561 improper registrations, including non-citizens.
- A 2021 law enabling non-citizens to get driver’s licenses contributed to the registration errors.
- Governor Kotek calls for an independent audit to ensure the integrity of the voting system.
Audit Uncovers Flaws in Oregon’s System
An audit of Oregon’s voter registration system revealed significant issues linked to automatic registration. Since 2021, the state mistakenly registered 1,561 individuals, including non-citizens, to vote due to clerical errors. These errors arose following a 2019 law allowing non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses, which inadvertently led to their registration as voters. This situation has prompted Governor Tina Kotek and Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade to advocate for an independent audit to ensure accountability.
The increase in erroneous registrations has put Oregon election officials under pressure to find solutions. An “after-action” report identified 302 new cases on top of previously reported errors, with 123 involving clerical mistakes. Meanwhile, 178 individuals from American Samoa and Swains Island were mistakenly classified as U.S. citizens. These findings underscore the need for immediate action to correct the flaws in the existing system and preserve the integrity of the voting process.
Steps Towards Resolution
Governor Kotek has requested the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pause its automatic voter registration to prevent future errors. The DMV and the Secretary of State’s office are reviewing whether improperly registered individuals have cast ballots. Hence, swift action is being taken to prevent these cases from affecting the upcoming elections. “Election integrity and security is of vital importance to us,” Kris Strickler, director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, stated.
Kotek emphasized the seriousness of any errors that undermine the voting system, stating, “Any error that undermines our voting system must be taken incredibly seriously and addressed.”
Reports confirm no significant increase in illegal voting has occurred, with only seven cases of potential noncitizen voting under investigation. The DMV has implemented new measures to strengthen oversight and data verification. Nevertheless, the situation calls for serious attention, as it affects public confidence in the electoral process, irrespective of the number of incorrect registrations relative to Oregon’s three million registered voters.
Today the Oregon Department of Transportation released a ‘complete comprehensive’ after-action report following the discovery of the automatic voter registration of over 1200 non-citizens. And it is what we suspected—just the tip of the iceberg. The numbers have continued to… pic.twitter.com/2tnpFFqrkw
— Christine Drazan (@ChristineDrazan) October 8, 2024
Political Responses and Future Implications
Democratic and Republican leaders call for further scrutiny. Democratic candidate Tobias Read supports a thorough investigation, while Republican Senator Dennis Linthicum demands a broader audit of voter rolls beyond the current review. The Oregon Republican Party also requests a comprehensive audit for greater transparency. These various responses highlight concerns across the political spectrum regarding the integrity of voter registration.
“Oregon erroneously added 1,259 people who didn’t provide proof of U.S. citizenship to the state’s voter rolls since 2021,” Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade announced Monday.
Moving forward, Oregon aims to rectify its voter registration process and strengthen data handling. The state plans to enhance DMV staff training, revise dropdown menus that led to misclassifications, and ensure only eligible voters are registered. Continual public and legislative awareness will be crucial in restoring trust in the state’s automatic voter registration system ahead of the 2024 elections.
Sources:
- Oregon Gov. calls for DMV to pause automatic voter registration as number of people mistakenly added to voter rolls grows
- Updated findings show nearly 1,260 possible noncitizens were registered to vote in Oregon since 2021
