Oregon DMV Admits to Registering Non-Citizens as Voters, Sparks Political Reactions
The Oregon DMV admitted on Friday that it had mistakenly registered over 300 non-citizens as voters since 2021, The Oregonian reported. The blunder, which violates both state and federal election laws, has raised concerns about election integrity. Non-citizens are barred from voting in local or national elections under U.S. law.
The error stems from Oregon’s decision to allow undocumented residents to obtain driver’s licenses starting in 2019. Kevin Glenn, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, explained that the DMV typically registers individuals to vote automatically when they receive a license or ID. A preliminary review by the agency found that 306 non-citizens were mistakenly registered as voters, although only two have participated in elections since 2021. “It’s basically a data entry issue,” Glenn said, emphasizing that the issue impacts the entire state and is not confined to specific counties.
DMV Administrator Amy Joyce also addressed the situation, stating that the department is still reviewing records to uncover any other registration errors. The DMV has now added a third verification step to prevent further mistakes. Previously, the DMV employed a two-step process that relied on U.S. passports or birth certificates for voter registration.
Political Implications
This voter registration error comes amid heightened scrutiny of election systems across the country, particularly in states that have enacted automatic voter registration laws like Oregon. The state has consistently voted Democrat in recent presidential elections, with Joe Biden winning 56% of the vote in 2020 and Hillary Clinton securing 50% in 2016. Oregon has been a Democratic stronghold in presidential races since 1988, with urban centers like Portland driving much of the liberal vote.
Nearly ten years ago, Oregon passed its “motor voter” law, automatically registering individuals to vote when they applied for or renewed a driver’s license. In 2019, a law allowing individuals without proof of legal residency to obtain a driver’s license was approved, creating the perfect conditions for the recent error. Willamette Week first broke the news that the automatic voter registration process inadvertently registered some ineligible non-citizens to vote.
Reactions from Oregon Officials
State Treasurer Tobias Read, a Democrat, voiced his frustration upon learning about the DMV’s mistake. Read, who is vying to replace Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, remarked, “I’m glad this was discovered, but I am appalled that it happened in the first place. The responsibility for managing our election system lies with the Secretary of State’s Office. No voters should be added to the registration rolls until the secretary of state has been able to independently verify that the data it receives from any source is accurate and complete.”
Read also pledged to address the issue immediately if elected. “I hope that the current secretary of state will work quickly to protect the integrity of our system. People can be sure that if I am elected secretary of state, it will be the first order of business.”
As the DMV continues its review and implements new measures, the incident is likely to fuel political debates over Oregon’s voter registration policies and broader concerns about election security. With the state’s strong Democratic lean and a history of progressive legislation, any reforms could have significant implications for future elections.
Conclusion
The Oregon DMV’s mistake in registering non-citizens as voters has triggered a wave of political and public concern, with both state officials and candidates calling for immediate action to prevent similar issues in the future. The upcoming elections will undoubtedly bring further scrutiny to the state’s election processes, as Oregon’s leaders work to restore public trust.