Pennsylvania Motor-Voter System Passes Audit with Only One Citizenship Error
State audit of 200,000+ motor-voter transactions finds only one citizenship error, confirming Pennsylvania’s screening systems work effectively.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — An audit of Pennsylvania’s motor-voter registration system found only one instance where a non-citizen was incorrectly given the opportunity to register to vote among more than 200,000 transactions reviewed, state Auditor General Timothy DeFoor announced Friday.
The audit, which examined the system that allows residents to register to vote when obtaining or renewing their driver’s licenses, revealed that the single error occurred due to a PennDOT employee’s omission of immigration status information during data entry.
Human Error Led to Single Mistake
“The motor voter process worked as intended, but due to human error, the driver’s license camera card had incorrect information about the individual’s citizenship. That is unacceptable,” DeFoor said during a news conference where he and his staff presented the audit findings.
When no immigration information is provided in the state’s driver’s licensing and control system, it automatically classifies a person as a U.S. citizen and offers voter registration options, DeFoor explained. The non-citizen’s voter registration application was forwarded to the Department of State, which maintains voter records.
Error Corrected Before Registration Completed
PennDOT discovered the mistake and immediately notified the Department of State, according to DeFoor. A PennDOT spokesperson confirmed the error was corrected before the individual left the driver’s license center.
“This person is not a registered voter in Pennsylvania, never voted in Pennsylvania during any election, and is no longer a resident of the Commonwealth. Ultimately, the audit confirms that PennDOT was and remains in compliance with both state and federal elections regulations,” said Press Secretary Alexis Campbell.
The Republican auditor general launched the six-month audit in January 2024, several months after Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro signed automatic voter registration legislation into law.
Security Improvements Recommended
Beyond the citizenship screening findings, the audit identified issues with PennDOT’s data security protocols and recommended implementation of tighter internal controls. DeFoor’s office has not yet released details about the specific security recommendations.
The review examined transactions across Pennsylvania’s motor-voter system, which has processed hundreds of thousands of voter registration applications since its implementation. The audit results demonstrate that existing safeguards are largely effective at preventing non-citizens from accessing voter registration through the motor vehicle licensing process.
DeFoor’s audit comes amid ongoing national discussions about election security and voter registration integrity. The findings suggest Pennsylvania’s automated screening systems are functioning as designed, with the isolated error attributed to human mistake rather than systemic failure.
The Department of State and PennDOT continue to work together to ensure accurate voter registration data while maintaining compliance with federal motor-voter requirements established under the National Voter Registration Act.
