Oregon’s Elections Director resigns amid controversy over noncitizen voter registration, raising concerns about the integrity of the state’s election system.
At a Glance
- Oregon Elections Director Molly Woon resigns “in lieu of removal” by 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
- Woon was previously Deputy Director of the Democrat Party of Oregon
- Controversy surrounds Woon’s involvement in promoting automatic voter registration
Resignation Amidst Voter Registration Concerns
Oregon’s elections system faces scrutiny as Elections Director Molly Woon steps down from her position. Woon’s resignation comes on the heels of revelations that hundreds of noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote in the state. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the reliability of Oregon’s voter registration processes and the overall integrity of its elections.
Woon, who assumed the role of Elections Director in January 2023, submitted her resignation effective January 14, 2025. In her resignation letter, Woon stated, “In lieu of removal by the incoming administration, I submit my resignation from the position of Elections Director at the Secretary of State, effective 1/14/2025.”
Oregon Elections Director Resigns Months After Hundreds Of Noncitizens Found Registered To Votehttps://t.co/U2Jv2DCKfj
— The Federalist (@FDRLST) December 19, 2024
Noncitizen Voter Registration Controversy
The controversy centers around Oregon’s “motor voter” system, which automatically registers individuals to vote when they interact with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). An audit revealed that this system had erroneously registered over 300 noncitizens to vote. Further investigations uncovered more than 1,600 potentially ineligible voters on the state’s rolls.
“[T]he first [option on the card] is ‘Do Nothing’ — just do nothing, and you’ll become automatically registered to vote,” Molly Woon bragged about the system.
The scale of the issue became apparent when it was discovered that the Oregon DMV had processed over 54,600 voter registrations for individuals of “unknown citizenship” between June 2021 and October 2024. This revelation has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the state’s voter verification processes.
Political Connections and Controversies
Woon’s background as a former Deputy Director of the Democrat Party of Oregon has come under scrutiny. Critics argue that her political affiliations may have influenced her handling of election-related matters. Additionally, Woon faced controversy for refusing to recuse herself from an investigation into a $500,000 donation from FTX to the state Democrat Party.
Further complicating matters, Woon appeared in a video promoting automatic voter registration alongside the executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government (IRG), a leftist group associated with Arabella Advisors. IRG’s involvement in inquiring about the motor voter system led to the discovery of noncitizen registrations, raising questions about the group’s motives and influence on Oregon’s election processes.
Calls for Reform and Accountability
The resignation of Woon and other top officials in the secretary’s office has intensified calls for reform in Oregon’s election system. Concerned citizens and lawmakers are demanding greater oversight and stricter measures to ensure that only eligible voters are registered and able to participate in elections.
As Oregon grapples with these challenges, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining accurate voter rolls and the potential consequences of administrative oversights in the electoral process. The state now faces the task of restoring public confidence in its election system and implementing safeguards to prevent similar issues in the future.
