The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has admitted to erroneously registering hundreds of non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections since 2021.
According to a report by Fox News, at least 306 non-citizens were wrongfully added to voter rolls due to a flaw in the state's automatic voter registration program.
The issue stems from a policy implemented in 2019 that allows non-citizens to obtain driver's licenses in Oregon. The automatic voter registration system, which registers individuals to vote when they receive a driver's license or state ID, failed to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens in these cases. State officials expect to uncover more incorrect registrations as they continue to investigate the matter.
Secretary Of State Defends Automatic Registration
Despite the error, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade stood by the automatic voter registration system. She emphasized that the 306 identified individuals would be notified by mail that they will not receive ballots unless they can prove their eligibility to vote.
Griffin-Valade stated:
While this error is regrettable, the secretary and the Elections Division stand by automatic voter registration and its many benefits.
Governor Tina Kotek also weighed in on the situation, asserting that the discovery would not impact the upcoming 2024 election. She praised the DMV and the Secretary of State's office for their diligence in uncovering the error ahead of the election cycle.
Ohio Secretary Of State Criticizes Automatic Registration
Frank LaRose, Ohio's Secretary of State, criticized automatic voter registration systems in light of Oregon's revelation. LaRose, who has been leading efforts to purge illegal voter registrations in Ohio, argued that such systems could lead to the registration of individuals who should not be on voter rolls.
LaRose explained:
This is why we have resisted so-called automatic voter registration in Ohio. We have multiple really convenient ways to register in Ohio, but there are people who should not be registered, like non-citizens, and there are people who simply don't want to be registered.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by state offices in verifying voter rolls, including limited access to federal databases and the associated costs of querying such systems.
Challenges In Verifying Voter Eligibility
LaRose detailed the process Ohio uses to verify voter eligibility, which includes checking against DMV data and the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. However, he noted that accessing and effectively using the SAVE database can be cumbersome and expensive.
The Ohio Secretary of State expressed frustration with the Department of Homeland Security's refusal to grant access to additional data that could help states more accurately audit their voter rolls. LaRose suggested that this reluctance might be intentional, stating, "I don't usually assume people's intentions, but it would seem they don't want us to use that information to identify non-citizens."
Impact On Electoral Integrity And Future Elections
Of the 306 non-citizens identified in Oregon's voter rolls, only two have cast ballots in an election since 2021. While this number is relatively small, the incident raises concerns about the integrity of automatic voter registration systems and the potential for non-citizens to participate in U.S. elections.
The Oregon DMV's admission of erroneously registering non-citizens to vote has sparked a debate on automatic voter registration systems. At least 306 non-citizens were wrongfully added to Oregon's voter rolls since 2021 due to a flaw in the state's system. While state officials defend the program, critics argue it compromises electoral integrity. The incident highlights the challenges in maintaining accurate voter rolls and verifying voter eligibility across the United States.
