The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division held a formal public hearing yesterday to gather community feedback on proposed administrative rules for the Oregon Motor Voter program. The session marks the latest step in an extended statewide effort to update and refine Oregon’s automatic voter registration system.
The Oregon Motor Voter program, commonly referred to as OMV, operates through the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division, better known as the DMV. When eligible residents interact with DMV services, such as applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state identification card, the system can automatically transmit information to election officials to begin the voter registration process.
State officials say the proposed rules under consideration are designed to ensure that the OMV program remains accurate, secure, and carefully administered. Secretary of State Tobias Read emphasized that theme directly in his announcement of the hearing.
“Accuracy, security, and rigor are the foundation of a trustworthy voter registration system,” Read said. “Shaped by key input from our advisory committee, these safeguards strengthen that foundation and raise the bar for Oregon Motor Voter. Now, we’re asking Oregonians to weigh in on the proposed rules, so we can work together to build a system that serves every voter fairly and reliably.”
The hearing begins at 11:30 a.m. and is being conducted entirely online. All members of the public are welcome to participate and offer testimony. Elections Division staff will be present during the event for the sole purpose of recording and preserving those public comments.
The Secretary of State’s office noted several important conditions for the session. Questions regarding the proposed rules will not be answered or discussed during the hearing itself. The proceeding is structured only as an opportunity for the public to speak and for officials to listen.
Anyone who does have detailed questions about the administrative rules is encouraged to submit them by email to RAC_OMV.SOS@sos.oregon.gov for written public testimony and for ongoing communication outside the live hearing.
Written feedback on the proposed rules will continue to be accepted through Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Community members who are unable to attend the online session today can still make their voices heard by sending formal remarks in writing to the same address.
The rulemaking process for the OMV program began months ago after an independent audit raised concerns and suggested improvements. In September, the Secretary of State’s office convened a Rules Advisory Committee to undertake a full review of the existing OMV administrative rules.
That committee, frequently described by state leaders as the RAC, included a wide range of specialists. Members were drawn from county election offices, DMV program administrators, immigration and civil-rights experts, and long-time elections professionals. The objective was to examine how the automatic registration system functions in practice and determine where additional protections or clarifications might be needed.
One of the primary reasons for forming the RAC was to address the findings and recommendations contained in a review conducted by the accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly. The Baker Tilly audit analyzed Oregon’s current Motor Voter framework and outlined steps to improve data handling, identity verification, and overall program transparency.
Following several rounds of meetings, the RAC completed its work and delivered suggested revisions to the Elections Division. Those recommendations helped shape the draft administrative rules now being presented for public comment.
The Secretary of State’s office says the new rules attempt to tighten procedures while still preserving the convenience of automatic registration. Proposed changes involve how information is transferred from the DMV, how notices are sent to newly registered voters, and how county clerks maintain ongoing oversight of the system.
County clerks across Oregon play a central role in the OMV program because they are responsible for maintaining local voter rolls. Any statewide adjustments to administrative rules can directly affect the daily work carried out in election offices from Portland to Eugene to Medford and Grants Pass.
The automatic voter registration system has been in place for several years and has already enrolled hundreds of thousands of Oregon residents. Supporters describe OMV as a national model that increases participation by making the registration process easier for qualified citizens.
Opponents have periodically questioned whether the system is strict enough to prevent ineligible registrations. State leaders say that is precisely why the administrative rules are being revisited and strengthened.
The online hearing page, hosted through the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division, will allow participants to log in, listen to the presentation, and deliver their comments directly to staff. Because the session is expected to draw heavy interest, officials cautioned that individual speaking times may be limited if attendance is unusually high.
The public hearing today does not represent a final decision on the OMV program. Instead, it serves as part of Oregon’s standard administrative rulemaking procedure. After collecting testimony, the Elections Division will review all comments, consider additional adjustments, and eventually issue a set of finalized rules at a later date.
For now, Oregon residents are being encouraged to take part in the civic process, either by attending the live online hearing at 11:30 a.m. or by submitting written remarks before the January 13 deadline. The proposed rule changes to Oregon Motor Voter remain open for full public review, and state officials say every voice is welcome as that process moves forward.