House Republicans request information on noncitizen voter registrations in Oregon

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Two House Republicans, Bryan Steil (R-WI) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), have demanded Oregon’s Secretary of State provide details regarding the status of 1,259 noncitizens found on the state’s voter rolls. The number, identified after an audit, significantly exceeds the previous estimate of 306 noncitizens. The lawmakers seek to know in which elections these individuals voted to ensure voter confidence ahead of the November 2024 federal election.

In a letter sent Wednesday, Steil and Chavez-DeRemer asked the state to clarify the circumstances surrounding the noncitizens' voter registrations. They emphasized the importance of rectifying automatic voter registration issues. Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade’s office confirmed the department was investigating fewer individuals—seven instead of ten—after reviewing the findings.

The letter also requests that Oregon detail measures taken to enhance oversight within the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to prevent noncitizens from being registered. Oregon’s automatic voter registration, introduced in 2015, had allowed individuals to register when updating their driver’s license or state ID.

Republicans are also pushing for further reforms to ensure no citizenship issues affect future voter rolls. A previous election integrity bill, the SAVE Act, which sought to strengthen citizenship checks, was unsuccessful in Congress this summer.