Oregon’s removal of over 1,200 non-citizens from its voter rolls emphasizes the state’s commitment to election integrity.
At a Glance
- Oregon election officials removed over 1,200 non-citizens from voter rolls for failing to provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Only nine of those potentially ineligible individuals voted in elections since 2021; county clerks are now verifying their eligibility.
- Statewide scrutiny of voter rolls has been heightened as the presidential election approaches.
- Oregon’s DMV made changes to prevent similar errors, ensuring votes are cast only by U.S. citizens.
Mass Removal of Non-Citizens from Voter Rolls
Oregon elections officials said Monday they had struck over 1,200 people from the state’s voter rolls after determining they did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship when they were registered to vote. This action comes as a protective measure to preserve the integrity of the state’s electoral system. This move is particularly striking given Oregon’s typically liberal stance on election policies.
The secretary of state’s office sent letters to the 1,259 improperly registered individuals, informing them their registration was inactivated. These individuals must re-register with proof of citizenship to vote in the 2024 election. This effort demonstrates Oregon’s commitment to ensuring that only eligible citizens can participate in upcoming elections, highlighting a rigorous approach to voter verification.
Of those found to be possibly ineligible, only nine people voted in elections since 2021, the Oregon secretary of state’s office said. County clerks are working to confirm whether those people were indeed ineligible when they cast their ballots, or just hadn’t provided the required documentation when they were registered to vote, said Molly Woon, the office’s elections director.
The Oregon government only learned about the registering of noncitizens to vote because of an outside think tank inquiry. They are NOT working to keep the voter rolls clean. https://t.co/RYEYofDpDq
— Oregon GOP (@Oregon_GOP) September 20, 2024
Increased Scrutiny and Corrections at the DMV
The error partly stemmed from Oregon allowing non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019, with automatic voter registration at the DMV. This process led to some noncitizens being mistakenly registered to vote. The DMV has since implemented changes to prevent such errors in the future, including reordering drop-down menu options and adding confirmation prompts. Daily quality checks will now be conducted by office managers to ensure document accuracy.
“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.”
Gov. Tina Kotek called for further steps, including updated staff training and a comprehensive error report. Oregon Republican lawmakers have requested a public hearing on the issue to ensure such mistakes are thoroughly addressed and do not recur. Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade assured that the November election “will not be affected by this error.”
Broader Implications and National Attention
The scrutiny of voter rolls is heightened nationwide as the presidential election nears. Concerns about non-citizens voting, while rare, underscore the importance of maintaining stringent voter eligibility checks. The action taken by Oregon election officials serves as a reminder of the ongoing national discourse about finding a balance between safeguarding electoral processes and protecting voter rights.
As the country moves closer to the 2024 presidential election, states will be closely monitoring their voter rolls to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in elections. Oregon’s actions, occurring in a state known for its liberal policies, reflect a serious approach toward maintaining election integrity.
