Oregon has taken decisive action to safeguard its electoral process by removing over 1,200 non-citizens from voter rolls, but the discovery of potentially ineligible voters has sparked concerns about election integrity.
At a Glance
- Oregon removed 1,259 individuals from voter rolls for failing to provide proof of U.S. citizenship
- Only nine of those possibly ineligible individuals voted in elections since 2021
- The error stemmed partly from Oregon allowing non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019
- Republican lawmakers have requested a public hearing on the issue
Oregon Takes Swift Action to Ensure Voter Integrity
In a move to maintain the integrity of its electoral system, Oregon has removed 1,259 individuals from its voter rolls after they failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. This action comes as states across the nation intensify scrutiny of voter eligibility ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The discovery has raised concerns about non-citizens potentially influencing election outcomes, despite such cases being exceedingly rare.
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has assured the public that the November election will not be affected by this error. However, the situation has prompted a closer examination of the state’s voter registration processes, particularly those tied to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The Root of the Problem
The error can be traced back to Oregon’s 2019 decision to allow non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses. This change, coupled with the state’s automatic voter registration system at the DMV, created an unexpected loophole. The DMV has since implemented changes to prevent future errors, including reordering drop-down menu options and adding confirmation prompts.
“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.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, it’s important to note that the number of potentially ineligible voters represents a minuscule fraction of Oregon’s electorate. Ben Morris, Griffin-Valade’s chief of staff, emphasized this point, stating, “There are currently three million registered voters in Oregon, so we’re talking about a fraction of a fraction of a percent. Automatic voter registration at the DMV remains the most trusted and secure way for engaging more eligible voters in our democracy.”
Political Repercussions and Future Actions
The discovery has not gone unnoticed by political figures in Oregon. Republican lawmakers have called for a public hearing on the issue, highlighting the heightened sensitivity surrounding election integrity. Governor Tina Kotek has also weighed in, calling for additional measures to prevent similar errors in the future.
“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.”
As Oregon works to rectify this situation, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance states must maintain between ensuring accessible voting processes and safeguarding the integrity of elections. With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, voters can expect continued vigilance and possibly further refinements to voter registration procedures across the nation.
