Thatcher Calls For Protecting Right to Vote After Wildfire Damage
Senator Kim Thatcher Calls for Emergency Action to Ensure Voters Aren’t Disenfranchised
— Secretary of State candidate says the right to vote shouldn’t end when your mailbox burns down —
NEWS RELEASE
Salem, OR — Today, Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), called for the current Secretary of State Bev Clarno to immediately address the needs of displaced Oregonians whose access to ballots in Oregon’s Vote-By-Mail system are going to be severely disrupted as residents shelter outside of their voting communities.
“Oregonians who’ve been displaced by these devastating wildfires must be guaranteed that they will get a ballot for the November General Election,” said Thatcher.
“The right to vote shouldn't end when your mailbox burns down.”
Thatcher outlined an emergency action plan to address the problems caused by the current vote-by-mail system where the United States Post Office does not forward ballots to postal-forwarded addresses. “There’s a disconnect in our system where if a displaced Oregonian puts in a mail-forward order with the Post Office, but doesn’t realize they also need to submit a mailing address change with the Secretary of State, the ballot going to a burned down home won’t reach the voter if they’re not there,” Thatcher stated. “We need an immediate plan to address that deficiency.”
Thatcher’s recommendations include opening a polling station at the city hall of all of Oregon’s 241 cities, in addition to polling stations that exist at each county clerk’s office. Additionally, she stated that it would be imperative for voters who were sheltering outside of their home city to be able to get the ballot for the community in which they evacuated. “People shouldn’t have to re-register to vote at a temporary address to be able to vote in their own local elections, where key community races like city mayors, county commissioners, and local bonds are on the ballot. They should be able to vote their local issues even if they can’t physically be present during the election.” Thatcher also pointed out that anywhere in-person voting is occurring for displaced residents must include free PPE distribution to voters to protect from transmitting COVID-19.
Recognizing that there was an increased cost to implement such a plan, Thatcher noted that Oregon’s Emergency Board would need to allocate funds, while concurrently seeking federal disaster funds that have been historically made available during elections occurring during a natural disaster. “We can’t put a price tag on ensuring registered voters are guaranteed to have a way or a place to vote in Oregon, whether it's through the mail, or in-person at an emergency polling place,” said Thatcher.
Thatcher went on to say that she has faith that if funds are made available, Oregon’s 36 county clerks would be willing to work together along with state elections staff so a voter could go to any of the emergency polling sites and access the ballot they would have received if they were still at home. “Oregon is a pioneer in vote by mail, we can be a pioneer in emergency voting. We have seven weeks to make this happen and I think together we can get it done.”
Thatcher is also asking that Governor Kate Brown use her resources to allocate necessary funding and ensure policy implementations be done through executive orders if Secretary Clarno cannot make needed changes through the emergency rule-making process.
“Many of us know people who have been impacted by these fires. The last thing people should be worried about at this moment is whether or not they’ll be able to vote this November. It’s within our power to ensure we preserve the fundamental right to vote during this time of disaster.”