Salem, Oregon- Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has directed county elections officials to inactivate 302 voter registrations after the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) identified errors in its automatic voter registration system. An independent audit of the Motor Voter system has also been requested.
The issue came to light through the DMV’s After Action Report, which revealed that 302 individuals were registered to vote despite not having provided proof of their eligibility. In response, Secretary Griffin-Valade ordered the registrations inactivated, alongside additional steps to prevent any potential impact on the 2024 election.
To address the errors, the Secretary instructed the Oregon Elections Division to increase oversight of the Motor Voter system. This includes hiring a new oversight position, establishing regular data checks between the DMV and the Elections Division, and updating administrative rules to enforce corrections.
County clerks have been directed to inactivate the affected registrations and issue “due process” letters to those individuals, allowing them to re-register if they can provide proof of eligibility. These voters will be flagged in the election management system to ensure that any ballots cast are thoroughly verified.
Governor Tina Kotek and Secretary Griffin-Valade have also called for an independent audit of the Motor Voter system, aiming to ensure transparency and restore public confidence in the state’s voter registration processes.
Secretary Griffin-Valade expressed confidence that the issue will not affect the integrity of the 2024 election, stating, “Thanks to the swift action of elections officials, I have full confidence that these new errors will not impact the 2024 election.”
As part of ongoing efforts to protect the voting system, flagged ballots will not be opened or counted unless the voter’s eligibility is confirmed. The DMV and Elections Division will continue to work together to prevent such errors in the future.
The individuals affected will be contacted and provided an opportunity to resolve their registration status. Those without a voting history will receive a “no fault” letter.
This move comes after similar concerns arose in September, when other voter registration issues were reported. Both state agencies are now focused on improving the reliability of Oregon’s automatic voter registration system to ensure election security and public trust.
Source: State of Oregon
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
