SALEM, OR — Governor Tina Kotek has lifted the pause on the transmission of Oregon Motor Voter Data from the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) to the Secretary of State’s Office (SoS).
In response, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has introduced new measures to enhance the accuracy and integrity of the state’s voter registration system.
Strengthening Voter Roll Protections
“The new protections we are adding today will help us catch and fix government data entry errors faster. These are first steps, focused on getting the fundamentals right.
I will continue to dig into the system and take action whenever I can to strengthen our voter rolls and prevent future mistakes. Our highest priority is – and must always be – protecting the integrity of Oregonians’ fair, secure, and accessible elections,”
said Secretary Read.
The Secretary of State’s Office will implement several new measures, including:
- Random Sampling: Each month, SoS staff will conduct a random audit of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) files, verifying their accuracy with the DMV.
- Daily Control File: The DMV and SoS will introduce a daily verification process to ensure that the number of Oregon Motor Voter files received by the SoS matches those sent by the DMV.
- Annual Review Panel: ODOT will convene an annual review panel comprising election officials, internal auditors, IT specialists, and county clerks to assess registration procedures and control measures.
Additionally, the Secretary of State will fulfill previous commitments by hiring a dedicated position to oversee the Oregon Motor Voter program, working alongside a counterpart at the DMV.
Addressing the Voter Registration Backlog
With the reinstatement of the Oregon Motor Voter program, the SoS is collaborating with County Clerks and election officials to process the backlog of data accumulated during the pause.
The goal is to ensure that all eligible Oregonians maintain accurate and up-to-date voter registrations.
“Thank you to the SoS staff, County Clerks, and elections directors for going above and beyond to ensure our voter rolls are updated and accurate, and thank you to the people of Oregon for your patience as we work through this process.
This is no small task. We will do everything in our power to make this go smoothly, and if issues arise, we’ll act quickly and transparently to get them fixed,”
added Secretary Read.
Oregon Voter Registration Safeguards at a Glance
| Measure | Description |
|---|---|
| Random Sampling | Monthly audit of AVR files to confirm accuracy |
| Daily Control File | Daily verification to match voter data transfers |
| Annual Review Panel | Cross-agency review of voter registration integrity |
| Dedicated Oversight | New position focused on voter roll management |
What This Means for Oregon Voters
These new protections aim to enhance voter registration accuracy, minimize errors, and maintain the security of Oregon’s elections. By implementing structured oversight and proactive auditing, the SoS seeks to uphold public confidence in the state’s electoral system.
Sources: Department of Administrative Services, Oregon.
