Rep. Drazan: Fix automatic voter registration now

By Oregon House Republicans

(3/4/25) —  House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) is calling on the Secretary of State to take over ODOT’s Motor Voter program in the aftermath of last fall’s failure in which more than 1,500 people were improperly automatically registered to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles, on top of ODOT recently revealing a $1.1 billion budget error.

“ODOT is in a tailspin and struggles to perform core functions,” said Rep. Drazan. “It should not be responsible for the integrity of our elections. If we are to restore trust with Oregonians, the Secretary of State should take a direct role overseeing every aspect of Oregon elections. Here’s the choice: Either take responsibility for automatic voter registration or discontinue the program.”

In Monday’s House Committee on Rules, Deputy Secretary of State Michael Kaplan acknowledged the DMV is facing challenges with the technology involved in automatic voter registration and earning back the public’s trust, while also revealing an independent audit on last fall’s voter registration failure has not been completed.

“The trust deficit in Oregon’s Motor Voter program is very real,” said Rep. Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville). “Moving Oregon’s automatic voter registration program under the Secretary of State’s purview is one tangible and immediate step we can take to ensure adequate oversight.”

“ODOT needs to get back to core mission,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany). “Registering voters is not core mission. If ODOT has the budget crisis it says it does, it’s time to treat it with the seriousness and sense of urgency it requires by reprioritizing what ODOT and the DMV spend their time doing.”

Oregon Republicans will continue to call for reforms to Oregon’s automatic voter registration program, and increased accountability from the Secretary of State as the independent, constitutional office responsible for overseeing Oregon elections.