abcnews.go.com
Oregon DMV Finds 118 More Cases of Non-Citizen Voter Registrations
Oregon's DMV found 118 more cases of people registered to vote without citizenship proof, bringing the total to 1,739; the errors, mostly from a previous computer system (2010-2020), involved a flawed drop-down menu; only 30 of those mistakenly registered voted, and investigations continue.
- How did the design of the DMV's computer system contribute to these errors, and what specific steps are being taken to prevent future occurrences?
- The errors resulted from a flawed drop-down menu in the DMV's system, allowing non-citizens with Oregon driver's licenses to be automatically registered to vote under Oregon's 'Motor Voter' law. The Secretary of State's office determined that only 30 of these individuals voted, with investigations ongoing into many of the cases.
- What is the total number of Oregonians mistakenly registered to vote due to technical and clerical errors, and what immediate actions are being taken to address the issue?
- Oregon's DMV recently discovered 118 additional cases of individuals registered to vote without providing U.S. citizenship proof, adding to the approximately 1,600 previously identified cases. The majority of these new errors (111) stemmed from a previous computer system used between 2010 and 2020. This brings the total number of mistakenly registered voters to 1,739.
- What are the broader implications of this incident for automatic voter registration systems nationwide, and what changes might other states consider to ensure accurate voter rolls?
- The ongoing monthly review of Motor Voter data through 2025 aims to prevent future errors. While new controls are in place, this incident highlights vulnerabilities in automatic voter registration systems, particularly when combined with policies allowing non-citizens to obtain driver's licenses. The long-term impact may include increased scrutiny of such systems nationwide.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue primarily as a problem of technical and clerical errors, emphasizing the DMV's and Secretary of State's efforts to correct them. While acknowledging that the errors are significant, the article minimizes their potential impact on election integrity by highlighting the small number of individuals who actually voted.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, though terms like "mistakenly registered" and "errors" could be perceived as downplaying the seriousness of the situation. More neutral alternatives might be "inadvertently included" or "systemic issues".
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the errors and their investigation, but omits discussion of the potential motivations behind the errors or whether similar issues exist in other states. It also doesn't explore the broader implications of automatic voter registration, particularly concerning non-citizens obtaining licenses.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by framing the issue as solely a technical error without fully exploring the underlying systemic issues that contributed to it, such as the state's policy on driver's licenses for non-citizens and the automatic voter registration process. This simplifies a complex problem.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights errors in Oregon's voter registration system, resulting in the mistaken registration of 1,739 individuals. The subsequent investigation, corrective actions (new controls to prevent future errors), and referrals to the Department of Justice demonstrate a commitment to ensuring fair and accurate elections, which is crucial for strong institutions and justice. Addressing these errors strengthens electoral processes and public trust.