HB 3470
Requires the Secretary of State to verify information provided to the secretary by the Department of Transportation and the Oregon Health Authority regarding voter registration.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
98%
Oppose
2%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires the Secretary of State to verify that voters are U.S. citizens before sharing voter registration information received from the Department of Transportation and the Oregon Health Authority with county clerks. It mandates that the Secretary of State confirm this citizenship verification through a review of documentation. The bill also establishes timelines for voter notification and registration, and outlines procedures for data transfer between state agencies.
Key provisions
- The Secretary of State must verify voter citizenship before sharing data with county clerks.
- The Department of Transportation must provide electronic records of voter information to the Secretary of State.
- The Oregon Health Authority must provide electronic records of voter eligibility to the Secretary of State.
- Individuals have 21 days to decline voter registration after notification.
- County clerks must wait 21 days after notification before sending ballots to registered voters.
- The Secretary of State must develop rules for data transfer and electronic signature requirements.
- The bill establishes a timeline for the implementation of these changes (June 1, 2026).
Who is affected
- Oregon Voters
- County Clerks
- Department of Transportation
- Oregon Health Authority
- Secretary of State
Notable changes
- Adds a citizenship verification step for voter registration data.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Here is a concise, objective paragraph summarizing the collective views of the testifiers in support of HB 3470: Supporters of HB 3470 emphasize the need to restore trust and confidence in Oregon's electoral system by verifying voter registration accuracy. They believe that requiring proof of legal citizenship for voting would help prevent non-citizens from participating in elections, thereby ensuring the integrity of the democratic process. Proponents argue that this measure is a matter of common sense and national security, and would help maintain the accuracy and efficiency of voter registration processes. Many testifiers also highlight the importance of protecting citizens' rights and promoting transparency and accountability in government appointments, emphasizing that verifying citizenship status should be automatically checked by the Secretary of State before allowing individuals to register to vote.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed bill express concerns that it would introduce unnecessary delays and costs in the voter registration process, placing an undue burden on election administrators. They argue that the current system is already vulnerable to fraud and that HB 3470 does not provide sufficient measures to address this issue. Furthermore, critics contend that the bill's provisions are an overreaction to existing voter registration laws, which they believe do not warrant such drastic changes.