A recent audit by Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services division has identified over 300 noncitizens who were mistakenly added to the state’s voter rolls over the past three years. This issue stems from a 2019 state law allowing individuals to obtain driver's licenses without proving citizenship, combined with Oregon's Motor Voter Law that automatically registers drivers to vote.'
The DMV’s review found that 306 noncitizens were registered to vote, though only two have cast ballots, according to Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade. State officials are continuing their audit, and it remains unclear how many more noncitizens might be registered as the review progresses.
“It’s a fast-moving process, and we’re dedicating significant resources to address it,” said Amy Joyce, DMV administrator. “However, I can’t provide a precise number at this stage.”
Oregon officials stressed that noncitizens found to have been registered will be notified and required to provide proof of citizenship before receiving a ballot. Voting as a noncitizen is a criminal offense in Oregon, and officials are examining whether the affected individuals had become citizens before voting.
This discovery has ignited concerns ahead of the upcoming election, with state officials emphasizing that the mistaken registrations were due to human error and lax processes at the DMV. Oregon’s motor voter system, enacted in 2016, was designed to expand voter access by automatically registering eligible residents when they interact with the DMV. However, a 2021 change allowed individuals to obtain driving privileges without proof of citizenship, inadvertently leading to noncitizens being registered to vote.
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade reassured the public that the issue was swiftly addressed upon discovery and that additional safeguards are being implemented to prevent future errors. “We stand by automatic voter registration and its benefits, but we are committed to ensuring only eligible citizens are on the rolls,” her office said in a statement.
As the review continues, some state leaders are calling for more oversight. State Treasurer Tobias Read criticized the current system, urging the Secretary of State’s office to independently verify all voter registration data before adding individuals to the rolls. Meanwhile, Republican leaders are voicing concerns over election integrity, with calls for investigations and stricter verification processes.
