Oregon’s Elections Director resigns amid scandal of hundreds of noncitizens found registered to vote.
At a Glance
- Molly Woon, Oregon’s Elections Director, resigned “in lieu of removal” by the incoming Secretary of State
- Over 300 noncitizens were registered to vote due to glitches in Oregon’s “motor voter” system
- Audits found more than 1,600 potentially ineligible voters on the rolls
- The Oregon DMV processed over 54,600 voter registrations for individuals of “unknown citizenship” between June 2021 and October 2024
- Woon was previously involved in scandals, including refusing to recuse herself from an investigation into a $500,000 donation from FTX to the state Democrat Party
Elections Director Forced Out Amid Voter Registration Controversy
Oregon’s elections system is under scrutiny following the resignation of Elections Director Molly Woon. The move comes after revelations that hundreds of noncitizens were registered to vote in the state, raising serious questions about the integrity of Oregon’s voter rolls. Woon’s departure, along with other top officials in the secretary’s office, signals a shakeup in Oregon’s election management.
Woon, who became elections director in January 2023 after serving as Deputy Director of the Democrat Party of Oregon, submitted her resignation “in lieu of removal by the incoming administration.” This abrupt change in leadership highlights the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action to address the voter registration irregularities.
Oregon Elections Director Resigns Months After Hundreds Of Noncitizens Found Registered To Votehttps://t.co/U2Jv2DCKfj
— The Federalist (@FDRLST) December 19, 2024
Systemic Failures in Oregon’s “Motor Voter” System
The heart of the controversy lies in Oregon’s automatic voter registration system, known as “motor voter.” This system, designed to streamline voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), has inadvertently registered hundreds of noncitizens to vote. The scale of the problem is alarming: over 300 noncitizens were found to be registered due to glitches in the system, and audits uncovered more than 1,600 potentially ineligible voters on the rolls.
Even more concerning is the revelation that the Oregon DMV processed over 54,600 voter registrations for individuals of “unknown citizenship” between June 2021 and October 2024. This staggering number raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the state’s verification processes and the potential for widespread voter fraud.
Controversial Ties and Lack of Oversight
The situation is further complicated by Woon’s connections to left-leaning organizations and her past actions. She appeared in a video promoting automatic voter registration alongside the Executive Director of the Institute for Responsive Government (IRG), a group associated with Arabella Advisors and known for advocating for automatic voter registration laws. This relationship raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the true motivations behind Oregon’s voter registration policies.
Woon’s praise for Oregon’s automatic voter registration system, despite its clear flaws, demonstrates a concerning lack of critical oversight. Her involvement in other scandals, including her refusal to recuse herself from an investigation into a $500,000 donation from FTX to the state Democrat Party, further erodes confidence in her leadership and judgment.
Urgent Need for Electoral Reform
The resignation of Oregon’s Elections Director is a wake-up call for the state and the nation. It underscores the critical need for robust mechanisms to verify voter eligibility and maintain the integrity of our electoral processes. The ease with which noncitizens were registered to vote exposes dangerous vulnerabilities in our system that could be exploited to undermine fair elections.
