Oregon's Voter Roll Controversy: A Critical Analysis of HB 2681 and Its Implications
The state of Oregon has become a focal point of debate regarding voter roll maintenance and election integrity. In 2021, a significant legislative shift occurred when the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 2681 (HB 2681), suspending the cleaning of voter rolls. This legislative action, sponsored by Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), who is currently running for Oregon Attorney General, has sparked controversy and raised concerns about its potential impact on election integrity and taxpayer costs.
HB 2681: Overview and Implications
HB 2681 effectively halted the regular updating and purging of voter rolls, a process designed to remove inactive or inaccurately listed voters. Under the new law, no individual will be removed from the active voter rolls regardless of inaccuracies in their address or extended periods of non-voting. This legislative change has significant implications for the accuracy of voter rolls and the financial burden on taxpayers.
The decision to suspend the maintenance of voter rolls means that addresses which are outdated or incorrect will not be updated. As a result, ballots will be sent to locations where voters may no longer reside. This not only raises questions about the accuracy of election outcomes but also imposes additional costs on taxpayers, who will bear the expense of mailing ballots to inaccurate addresses.
National Context and Public Opinion
The controversy surrounding Oregon's approach to voter roll maintenance is part of a broader national conversation about election integrity. A Rasmussen Poll revealed that a substantial majority of U.S. voters, 75%, support the requirement
Original article:
The year 2021 was pivotal in Oregon when voters lost control over maintaining voter rolls. The Oregon legislature passed HB 2681 to suspend cleaning voter rolls, sponsored by Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), currently running for Oregon Attorney General. No one will be taken off the active voter rolls even if their address is wrong or they have not voted for any period of time. The bloating of voter rolls will increasingly cost taxpayers a lot more to send out ballots to addresses that are no longer accurate for that voter. A Rasmussen Poll from a national telephone and online survey found that 75% of likely U.S. voters believe voters should be required to show photo identification such as a driver’s license before being allowed to vote. Only 21% are opposed to such a requirement... While other states are working towards election integrity, Oregon is making it easier for illegal voting by a self-certification of citizenship, and never cleaning voter rolls. Oregon’s Secretary of State was notified earlier this year in a “pre-suit” to come into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. #TrueTheVote #cleanvoterrolls #ElectionIntegrity #ElectionIntegrityMatters #Oregon #OregonVotes #VoterRolls
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