SPRINGFIELD – An Executive Order signed last Tuesday by the U.S. President has caught the attention of officials and residents here who expressed concern about access to voting in future elections and changes to Oregon’s well-established mail-in voting system.
The Executive Order was expansive in its policy directive, from changing voter ID standards to making funding threats to states that don’t adhere to the EO.
Oregon would be in the crosshairs. The state’s history with mail-in voting tracks to the 1980s, and voters have used the mail-in system exclusively since 2000. Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter Dirk VanderHart noted that a 2018 survey found 71% of voters statewide said they preferred to vote by mail.” The EO also orders changes in voter ID paperwork and changes to deadlines for receiving and counting ballots.
Terry Parker, board president of the League of Women Voters in Lane County, said the order raises concerns and some confusion.
“Anything that limits voting is anti-democratic in our world,” said Parker, embarking on her second two-year term as president. “Oregon has really set the standard in making voter access available, so to move backward is a regression. There’s a lot of noise at the federal level right now, so it’s hard to figure out exactly what to respond to. … We’re trying to give people the resources to know what they’re voting for.
“The states handle elections; states control them,” she said. “Then you have an Executive Order that doesn’t acknowledge that. Other EOs push things down to the states.
“It’s a little crazy right now; it creates chaos and uncertainty,” Parker said.
The LWV national office issued a statement in response to the EO:
“This order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters – particularly women voters – to participate in them,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “This EO is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters.”
The LWV is a nonpartisan organization with expertise in voting and elections. Its stated mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. Marcia Johnson, the LWV’s chief counsel, echoed Parker’s thoughts.
“This order is not only an attack on American voters’ fundamental freedom to vote, it is also plainly unlawful,” Johnson said.
That’s an important point, several election leaders and voting experts said. “It’s critical for everyone to remember what an Executive Order is. It is the President communicating orders to members of the executive branch. Policies to pursue, actions to take, etc. They are not laws. They are not close to being laws. They are formalized memos to employees. That’s all,” wrote Josh Marshall, founder of Talking Points Memo, a well-respected independent news site.
Mobility challenges
Tammy Ingles-Drew is the CEO of AIMS Mobile Nursing and Vascular Access, a healthcare business in the southern Willamette Valley that serves many homebound patients.
“Ninety percent of the people we see in homes are unable to leave and go vote or do much of anything else,” Ingles-Drew said. “Not having the ability to vote by mail would be devastating.”
Lee Bliven can back her up. He volunteers for 10 different organizations, most of them helping seniors. His take on the EO and its potential impact is straightforward.
“It’s a bunch of BS and should never be … we have the safest voting system in the country. Mail-in voting is one of the safest and best ways and most equitable ways to get people’s voices heard.”
Stewart and Bliven cited Oregon’s standing as a model for mail-in voting.
The 2024 November general election saw a 77% participation rate from Lane County, with 210,583 ballots returned by dropbox and mail vs. 4,075 dropped off in person in Lane.
Bliven stressed that traveling to vote would be a hardship for many seniors he interacts with.
“The biggest effect would be in the long-term care facilities, nursing homes, senior living, where they can’t get out physically to vote,” said the retired water well driller. “It’s going to make it impossible to vote, and they need to have their voices heard. Especially in the rural communities … Folks in Creswell and Cottage Grove, if they have to go all the way to Eugene to vote, it’s going to be impossible for many of those seniors.”
Parker and Bliven said the best next steps are to advocate with local, state, and federal representatives.
“Even though you might think your elected and state representatives might be leaning in the right directions, it’s important to let them know that constituents are concerned,” Parker said.
Bliven agrees: “The best thing is letters to legislators, and get the legislator to stand up and say ‘This is Oregon, and we have the right to vote how we want to.’ Let’s stand up for our rights.”
