Elections officials in Minnesota have discovered some potentially problematic entries in the state’s automatic voter registration system. Since April, over 90,000 people have been registered or pre-registered to vote through this new system, which automatically registers residents who apply for and receive state-issued IDs. Those who meet legal criteria are registered without having to opt-in, and 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote once they turn 18. Around 1 percent of these automatic registrations have been flagged for potential issues, prompting officials to keep those registrations inactive until their eligibility is confirmed.
Secretary of State Steve Simon reassured the public that steps are being taken to verify the eligibility of those who have been automatically registered to vote. He stated that the flagged registrations will undergo further checks to ensure that they meet all criteria. Additionally, individuals who are eligible will be notified that they need to complete the registration process either online, at their local election office, or in-person at their polling place. These measures are being put in place to enhance the verification system and address any concerns raised by Republican legislators who questioned the automatic voter registration system.
Republican House and Senate leaders have raised concerns about the automatic voter registration system in Minnesota, particularly regarding the 1 percent of registrations that have been flagged for potential problems. They have requested the actual number of flagged registrants and sought confirmation on whether any of them were allowed to vote in the August primary election. With the general election just 52 days away and early voting set to begin in September, they emphasized the importance of ensuring the security and fairness of the electoral process to maintain public trust in the system.
While Minnesota grants driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status, officials assert that the identification document requirements provide adequate safeguards against illegal voting. In a related development, officials in Oregon, which has a similar automatic registration system, disclosed that over 300 non-citizens were mistakenly registered as voters since 2021 due to a “data entry issue” during driver’s license applications. Two of these non-citizens have reportedly voted in elections since 2021, despite state and federal laws prohibiting non-citizens from participating in national and local elections.
In light of these revelations, both Minnesota and Oregon are taking steps to address the issues within their automatic voter registration systems and strengthen verification processes. The incidents in Oregon serve as a cautionary tale for election officials in other states implementing similar systems, highlighting the importance of robust safeguards to prevent ineligible individuals from being registered to vote. As the election approaches, officials in both states are working to ensure that only eligible voters are registered and able to participate in the democratic process, maintaining the integrity and security of their respective electoral systems.
