Automatic Voter Registration — Oregon
Oregon Secretary of State · Oregon, United States · 2016
Summary
Oregon's Motor Voter (AVR) system registered 272,000 previously unregistered citizens in its first year, disproportionately young and lower-income — demographics that traditionally underregister. Crucially, those registered through AVR turned out at rates comparable to traditionally registered voters, refuting the concern that automatic registrants are less engaged. The opt-out rate was below 4%. Seventeen states have since adopted AVR with consistently positive registration results. The finding illustrates how administrative default design can extend civic participation to populations that face friction in the traditional opt-in registration system.
Research question
"Does automatic voter registration through DMV transactions increase registration rates and turnout?"
Methodology
Intervention
All eligible citizens automatically registered when interacting with DMV unless they opt out; 2016 election was first with AVR
Assignment
Pre-post with synthetic control; comparison to similar non-AVR states
Sample size
272,000 newly registered voters in first year
Primary outcome
Registration rate; turnout among newly registered
Effect estimate
Registration: 272,000 new registrations first year, majority low-income and younger voters; turnout of AVR registrants: comparable to traditionally registered
Decision
19 states adopted AVR by 2022; federal legislation proposed
Result
Positive
Registration: 272,000 new registrations first year, majority low-income and younger voters; turnout of AVR registrants: comparable to traditionally registered
Evidence strength
Limited
Observational or pre-post design; correlation not necessarily causal.
Replication status
Replicated
Institution
Oregon Secretary of State
Location
Oregon, United States
Year
2016
Policy area
Voter Engagement
Mechanism
Default