Data Entry Issue Allowed Over 300 Non Citizens to Register to Vote In Oregon

State officials in Oregon have admitted that since 2021, at least 300 noncitizens have been mistakenly registered to vote.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) attributes the erroneous voter registrations to a “data entry issue.”

According to the state’s findings, of the 306 noncitizens who were incorrectly registered, at least two of them went on to cast ballots in elections post-2021. It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in Oregon’s state and federal elections, making this discovery particularly concerning for election security.

Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Administrator Amy Joyce has acknowledged the gravity of the issue, indicating that state investigators are likely to uncover more instances of noncitizens being wrongfully registered.

In addition, further investigations may reveal additional cases where noncitizens cast votes, raising concerns about the overall security and accuracy of the state’s voter registration system.

Approximately half of the states in the U.S. have implemented some form of automatic voter registration (AVR), where individuals are automatically registered when they apply for or renew a driver’s license or engage with state government agencies.

Oregon passed its automatic voter registration law over a decade ago, utilizing what is known as a “back-end” AVR system.

Under this system, when individuals submit paperwork with the state, the information is forwarded to election officials, who are responsible for verifying their eligibility to vote before completing the registration process.

Advocates of automatic voter registration argue that it enhances security and minimizes the risk of fraudulent registrations. However, this recent incident in Oregon suggests that even minor errors, such as those resulting from incorrect data entry, can undermine the integrity of the system.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade addressed the situation by stating that those who were mistakenly registered will be informed by mail.

These individuals will not receive ballots unless they can prove their eligibility to vote. This is intended to prevent further instances of ineligible individuals casting ballots in upcoming elections.

Oregon’s experience with noncitizen voter registration is not unique. Similar problems have surfaced in other states that have implemented automatic voter registration.

Reports from the National Pulse have highlighted fraudulent noncitizen registrations in Illinois and Pennsylvania.  Moreover, federal investigations in states without AVR systems, such as North Carolina, have also found cases where noncitizens were able to register and vote illegally.

While automatic voter registration systems are generally designed to streamline the process and improve access to voting for eligible citizens, this incident in Oregon highlights potential vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.

As investigations continue, Oregon is likely to reevaluate its procedures to ensure that the state’s voter rolls are accurate and that only eligible voters are participating in its elections.

The state’s actions moving forward will be critical in maintaining public trust in the electoral process.