WHEREAS, the right to vote is the foundation of American democracy, and every eligible voter deserves a system that makes participation more accessible; and
WHEREAS, Democratic-led reforms such as automatic voter registration, online voter registration, ballot tracking, early voting, secure ballot drop boxes, and vote by mail have modernized elections, expanded participation, and strengthened public confidence in the democratic process; and
WHEREAS, these reforms promote accessible elections for all, particularly for communities that have historically faced barriers to voting, such as: working people, rural voters, seniors, students, military families, Tribal communities, voters with disabilities, caregivers, and others; and
WHEREAS, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would create inaccessible and paperwork-heavy systems which impose burdensome and expensive proof of United States citizenship to register to vote, despite no evidence of widespread non-citizen voting to justify such restrictions; and
WHEREAS, the SAVE Act would create significant new barriers for eligible voters, including married women and others who have changed their names, Americans without ready access to passports or birth certificates, military families, students, and voters unable to easily travel or take time off work to present documents in person; and
WHEREAS, the SAVE Act threatens vote-by-mail systems by restricting states’ ability to conduct elections in the manner voters have repeatedly chosen and trusted, while imposing costly and unfunded mandates on local election administrators and rural communities; and
WHEREAS, Oregon was the first state in the nation to adopt universal vote-by-mail after voters approved the reform by ballot measure in 1998, and became the first state in American history to conduct a presidential general election entirely by mail in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Oregon’s election system demonstrates that voter access and election security are complementary values, with automatic voter registration, signature verification, ballot tracking, secure drop sites, and centralized voter registration, creating one of the most trusted election systems in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has warned that the SAVE Act is “a terrible solution in search of a problem,” noting that it would “make it nearly impossible for citizens to vote by mail” and would “make voting harder for married women, military spouses, and for anyone who can’t take time off work or drive or walk,” imposing new barriers on eligible voters; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and has cautioned that “enactment of new voter registration policies under the Executive Order and the SAVE Act would lead to mass disenfranchisement of eligible Native voters and further depress the Native vote,” and that the Act’s documentation and in-person requirements would “exacerbate existing barriers” by forcing many Tribal voters to travel long distances to register; and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum opposed the SAVE Act and said that “all eligible voters should have their voices heard, plain and simple,” and warned that the documentation requirements “take time and money to get … to me, that sounds like a poll tax,” highlighting the inequitable burdens the bill would impose on voters; and
WHEREAS, at a time when Americans deserve a democracy that is more inclusive, accessible, and resilient, efforts to restrict ballot access threaten the progress states like Oregon have made toward expanding participation and strengthening public trust in elections.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Democratic Party of Oregon thanks Oregon Democratic elected leaders who have stood up for vote-by-mail, automatic voter registration, and the right of all citizens to vote.
Section 2. The Democratic Party of Oregon recognizes Oregon’s vote-by-mail and automatic voter registration systems as national models for expanding participation while maintaining secure, transparent, and accountable elections.
Section 3. The Democratic Party of Oregon expresses gratitude to leaders who have opposed efforts to disenfranchise eligible voters and undermine trusted election systems under the false banner of election integrity.
Section 4. The Democratic Party of Oregon reaffirms its commitment to defending accessible, secure, and inclusive elections and supporting policies that strengthen democratic participation and public trust.
Resolution Submitted By Nathan Soltz, Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon; Kim Schmith, Vice Chair; Eileen Kiely, Vice Chair; Steph Newton, DNC Member; Kien Truong, DNC Member; Diane Grover, DNC Member
Adopted 5/31/26
