FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nicole L'Esperance, nicole [at] dpo [dot] org, (503) 224-8200
Today, the Democratic Party of Oregon demanded that the Oregon Republican Party cease its misleading robo calls and release the list of voters targeted by the calls to the Oregon Secretary of State, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Justice to evaluate for possible illegal acts, including voter suppression, and to determine a timely remedy recognizing the election is in just four days.
Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Frank Dixon released the following statement:
“The Oregon Republican Party claims these robo calls were targeted at ‘inactive’ Republican voters. Yet, at this early stage we already know of Non-Affiliated and Democratic voters, one a member of the Oregon press corps, who received these misleading robo calls. In addition, we know County Election Officials across Oregon have been contacted by large numbers of 'active' voters who’ve received the Republican robo calls and are concerned about their right to vote.
“For the Oregon Republican Party to tell ‘active voters’ that they’re ‘inactive voters,’ and thus, may not qualify to vote, is no small error and could clearly interfere with an active voter’s perceived right to vote, and their belief that they can vote. This is clearly voter suppression.
“Not only that, multiple recorded versions of Oregon Republican Party robo calls do not include language identifying the Oregon Republican Party as the source of the call – which is required by law. To not include this disclaimer is not only deceptive, it’s outrageous.
“The Oregon Republican Party’s misleading robo calls, if not highly illegal, are grossly reckless and irresponsible, and we demand immediate action.
“Because of these facts, the extreme importance of protecting voter rights, and the short four days to remedy this matter, we demand that the Oregon Republican Party stop making these robo calls and release the list of voters targeted with calls to the Oregon Secretary of State, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Justice to evaluate for possible illegal acts, including voter suppression, and to determine a timely remedy for this troubling effort.
“In the midst of this situation, it is morally reprehensible that the Oregon Republican Party Chairman—in a Donald Trump-style press statement released in the middle of night – would attack our Secretary of State with claims that she is suppressing voters. The Secretary of State is doing her job and protecting the rights of Oregonians. It is the Oregon Republican Party suppressing the rights of voters, and their late night attack draws their actions into further doubt.
“To be absolutely clear, if a voter has received a ballot in the mail, that voter is registered to vote, and if a person has voted already or if they vote by Tuesday at 8 p.m., their vote will count. The Democratic Party encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote and not be fooled by Republican efforts to suppress the vote.”
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