100 paperless DMV voter registrations may have been lost in Kansas

Reports have surfaced in Butler, Johnson, Sedgwick, and Shawnee Counties that some residents may not be registered to vote because of a flawed, paperless voter registration system at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. One estimate from a reliable source is that perhaps 100 voters statewide are affected by this problem (so far). The problem only affects those who registered this year to vote through the DMV from Aug 25 through Oct 20. A new automatic transfer system started on Aug 25.

Last week the Topeka Capital-Journal reported six cases of problems with voter registration by those registering through the Dept. of Motor Vehicles in Topeka. Now reports have surfaced in other counties from people who thought they registered to vote when they applied for a new driver’s license. Some have now learned they may not be registered.

An official from the Johnson County Election Office said a list of 75 voter affected by the problem was sent to the Secretary of State’s Office today. An official from the Sedgwick County Election Office said a handful of cases had been reported in Wichita. An official from the Wyandotte County election office declined to admit there was a problem.

Officials from the Secretary of State’s Office will need to work with the DMV to determine what when wrong in the automatic interface that started Aug 25. The source of the problem is not yet known. Last week the Secretary of State’s Office sent an E-mail to election officials alerting them about this problem, but a copy of that E-mail has not been obtained.

Verifying faulty DMV voter registration may still be possible. The Secretary of State’s office will have the final word on whether someone is registered or not.

Voters who thought they were registered through the DMV are being asked to provide as many details as possible about when and where they tried to register. If the registration through the DMV cannot be confirmed, voters may be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, but it’s unclear how that ballot would ever be counted.

Have some voters been disenfranchised by a flawed computer system? How could we have allowed a paperless voter registration system at the DMV without proper checks and balances? How big and how serious of a problem is this?

If you registered to vote at the DMV since Aug 25 and now are being told you are not registered, contact your local election office. Please consider sending information to the Meadowlark for additional reporting on this matter (your identity will not be published), or just post information below.

• Some advance-voting glitches appear, Wichita Eagle, Nov 1, 2008.
• Motor voter glitch has some Kansas voters seeing red, Kansas City Star BuzzBlog, Oct 31, 2008.
• “Motor Voter” Issues Causing Problems for New Kansas Voters, Fox 4, Oct 30, 2008.
• Possible voter fraud, voter suppression in Topeka, Kansas Meadowlark, Oct 25, 2008.

Tags: Voter Registration