On Friday, officials in Oregon acknowledged a data entry error that resulted in the registration of more than 300 non-citizens to vote in the state since 2021, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

Kevin Glenn, a representative of the Oregon Department of Transportation, indicated that an analysis performed by the department revealed that 306 non-citizens were registered to vote while applying for driver’s licenses, according to the AP. Glenn further noted that among those erroneously registered, two individuals have cast votes since 2021, despite existing state and federal regulations prohibiting non-citizens from participating in elections, as reported by the AP.

According to Glenn, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) automatically registers individuals to vote upon the issuance of a driver’s license. He characterized the error as fundamentally a data entry problem, as reported by the outlet. Glenn further elaborated that DMV staff occasionally misrepresent whether an applicant for a driver’s license or state ID possesses a U.S. birth certificate or passport, even in cases where they do not, as noted by the AP.

LaVonne Griffin-Valade, the Secretary of State for Oregon, stated that her office became aware of the issue only on Thursday. On Friday, she released a statement regarding the error.

The secretary said the 306 people “will be notified by mail that they will not receive a ballot unless they demonstrate that they are eligible to vote,” the AP reported.

“While this error is regrettable, the secretary and the Elections Division stand by automatic voter registration and its many benefits,” Griffin-Valade added.


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