According to officials, the Oregon Elections Division experienced a flood of callers due to false information circulating about former President Donald Trump’s absence from Oregon’s voter’s pamphlet.
The phone lines were shut down on Oct. 17 after being overwhelmed by out-of-state callers responding to misinformation. The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division reassured voters that Trump will indeed be on the ballot.
False claims on social media suggested election interference, but it was actually a decision made by the Trump campaign not to submit a campaign statement for the pamphlet, as stated in a news release from the Secretary of State’s office.
By 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 17, the office closed for the day due to safety concerns. The voters’ pamphlets had been mailed out the day prior on Oct. 16.
Related Stories
The Trump campaign chose not to submit a statement for the voters’ pamphlet, as confirmed by the Secretary of State Elections Division. While Trump’s name appears in the pamphlet, it is noted that he chose not to provide a statement.
Despite previous announcements by the Oregon Republican Party, recent social media accounts have raised questions about Trump’s absence in the pamphlet or made false claims.
The decision not to submit a statement was made by the Trump campaign earlier in the year, as stated by the Oregon Republican Party in a statement on their website.
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade expressed frustration over the influx of out-of-state callers, stating that Oregonians in need of assistance may experience delays due to misinformation being spread online. She emphasized the importance of discouraging such behavior and false claims of election interference.
Oregon voters seeking assistance can leave a voicemail at the Elections Division, and their calls will be prioritized for return.
