Oregon officials have removed over 1,200 individuals from voter rolls due to lack of U.S. citizenship proof, sparking concerns about election integrity as the 2024 presidential race approaches.
Oregon Republicans look to safeguard voter rolls after DMV admitted to registering hundreds of people to vote without proof of citizenship pic.twitter.com/m9Z8dEN1Dl
— Matt Robinson (@dowop_robinson) September 18, 2024
Oregon’s Voter Roll Cleanup
In a significant move to maintain electoral integrity, Oregon elections officials have expelled 1,259 individuals from the state’s voter rolls. This action came after discovering these individuals failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship upon registering to vote. The scrutiny of voter rolls has intensified nationwide as the 2024 presidential election draws near, with concerns about non-citizens voting becoming a focal point of discussions on election security.
Despite the large number of removals, only nine of these possibly ineligible individuals have voted in elections since 2021. County clerks are now working diligently to verify whether these nine were indeed ineligible or simply lacked proper documentation. This small number represents a minuscule fraction of Oregon’s approximately 3 million registered voters, highlighting the rarity of such occurrences.
Origins of the Error
The root of this issue can be traced back to Oregon’s policy change in 2019, which allowed non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses. This, coupled with the state’s automatic voter registration system at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), inadvertently led to the improper registration of some non-citizens. The error underscores the delicate balance required in managing voter accessibility while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
“Election integrity and security is of vital importance to us, and the DMV and the Secretary of State take the issue incredibly seriously,” Kris Strickler, director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, told reporters on Monday. The agencies “have continued to implement swift corrective action to ensure that this data processing error will not impact the 2024 election or future elections.”
Corrective Measures and Assurances
In response to this discovery, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has taken swift action. Letters were sent to all 1,259 improperly registered individuals, informing them that their registration has been inactivated. These individuals must now reregister with proper proof of citizenship if they wish to vote in the 2024 election. The DMV has also implemented changes to prevent future errors, including reordering drop-down menu options and adding confirmation prompts.
“There are currently three million registered voters in Oregon, so we’re talking about a fraction of a fraction of a percent,” said Ben Morris, Griffin-Valade’s chief of staff. “Automatic voter registration at the DMV remains the most trusted and secure way for engaging more eligible voters in our democracy.”
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has assured the public that the November election “will not be affected by this error in any way.” This statement aims to maintain public confidence in the electoral system despite the recent discovery. However, Republican lawmakers in Oregon have requested a public hearing on the issue, indicating ongoing concerns about election integrity.
Looking Ahead
As Oregon works to rectify this situation, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining accurate voter rolls. It also highlights the challenges faced by states in balancing voter accessibility with electoral security. With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, Oregon’s swift response to this issue demonstrates a commitment to upholding the integrity of the democratic process.
“The integrity of election systems is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, and any error that can undermine our voting system must be taken seriously and addressed immediately,” Kotek said in a statement. “Following round-the-clock corrective action on the part of Oregon DMV to address the known errors and ensure they will not impact the 2024 general election, I am now directing the agency to go above and beyond to ensure errors like this will not happen again.”
