Minnesota election officials make changes to automatic voter registration system after issues arise
ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Election officials are making changes to Minnesota’s automatic voter registration system after finding a number of potentially problematic entries. However, they say they are not aware of any individuals who registered to vote through the system who are ineligible.
The office of the Secretary of State said this week that more than 90,000 people have registered or pre-registered since April, when Minnesota’s new system went live. Residents who apply for and receive state-issued ID, such as driver’s licenses, are now automatically registered to vote without having to register if they meet the legal criteria. And 16 and 17 year olds can pre-register to vote once they turn 18.
About 1 percent of these automatic registrations are flagged for potential problems, said Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, whose department issues driver’s licenses and other official identification cards, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
Secretary of State Steve Simon said those 1,000 or so voter registrations will remain “inactive” until names, addresses and citizenship status are confirmed. He also said additional checks will be carried out to ensure voters registered through the system meet eligibility criteria. Flagged individuals will be notified that, if eligible, they must register online, at their local election office or in person at their polling station on Election Day.
Republican lawmakers raised questions about the automatic voter registration system earlier this month. Jacobson told them in a letter On Thursday, he said he was not aware of any cases in which Minnesotans registered to vote but were not eligible to vote. However, he said the process improvements they are making will strengthen the verification system.
Republican leaders in the House and Senate responded Friday by saying they still have questions. They said 1 percent of the registered vote could be about 1,000 people. They asked for the actual number and pressed for confirmation that anyone would be eligible to vote in the August primary.
āThe election is 52 days away and early voting begins September 20. Minnesotans want to trust that our elections will be secure and fair,ā the statement said.
While Minnesota issues driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status, Officials say the identification document requirements provide sufficient protection against illegal voting.
In Oregon, where a similar automatic registration system exists, officials acknowledged Friday that the state has accidentally registered more than 300 non-citizens as voters since 2021 in what it describes as a ādata entry problemā that occurred when people applied for driver’s licenses.
An initial analysis by the Oregon Department of Transportation found that 306 noncitizens were registered to vote, spokesman Kevin Glenn said. Of those, two have voted in elections since 2021. State and federal law prohibit noncitizens from voting in state and local elections.