Oregon's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inadvertently registered over 300 non-citizens to vote, officials admitted recently.
The registration error came to light during an internal investigation, revealing flaws in data input processes at the DMV, The Daily Caller reported.
The Oregon Department of Transportation confirmed the registration problem originated when non-citizens applied for driver’s licenses. This automatic process mishap occurred due to DMV staff incorrectly marking that applicants had presented U.S. birth certificates or passports.
DMV's system has been designed to automatically add individuals to voter rolls during the driver’s license application process. Even with this safeguard, Oregon DMV's protocol failed to prevent the erroneous registration of non-citizens since automatic registration began in 2019.
Upon learning about the incident, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade immediately took steps to address and rectify the issue. According to Kevin Glenn, a spokesperson for the department, the error was primarily "a data entry issue."
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade commented on the corrective measures being implemented.
The Secretary's office conducted audits which hinted that the number of affected cases could surpass the initial count of 306 non-citizens.
In addition to rectifying the registration errors, Oregon has also expanded its automatic voter registration system. House Bill 2107, passed in 2023, now includes automatic registration for individuals enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan/Medicaid.
This expansion is part of the broad endeavor by the state to simplify and secure its voter registration process. Governor Tina Kotek reassured the public and stated, “This situation will not impact the 2024 election in any way.”
About the broader spectrum of voter registration, further investigations are likely to increase the number of discovered registration anomalies. DMV Administrator Amy Joyce indicated the ongoing probe could unearth additional cases of mistakenly registered non-citizens.
Despite over 300 non-citizens being registered, only two participated in past voting since 2021. This minimal participation illustrates the isolated use of erroneous voter registrations.
Oregon officials emphasize the uniqueness of these cases and the strong audit systems that quickly identify and rectify such discrepancies.
Final corrective actions include notifying all mistakenly registered non-citizens. They would only receive future ballots if they demonstrate eligible voter status. This crucial step aims to maintain the integrity of Oregon's voter rolls and ensure the legality of all future elections.
In concluding thoughts, while the discovery of non-citizens being erroneously registered to vote due to DMV data input errors caused concern, swift state responses have mitigated any serious repercussions. New legislative measures and stringent audits reinforce Oregon's commitment to electoral integrity. As the state addresses this error, authorities reaffirm the benefits and security of its automatic voter registration system.
