Vote-by-Mail Is Democracy in Action—Keep It Strong

I am writing to express deep concern about recent statements from former President Trump, who declared: “I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.” This claim misrepresents both the record and the reality of vote-by-mail in the United States. The facts are clear: • Oregon has used universal vote-by-mail since 2000. The system has been rigorously studied and consistently shown to be secure, accurate, and cost-effective. According to the Oregon Secretary of State, instances of fraud are extraordinarily rare—fewer than a handful of cases per million ballots cast. • Bipartisan endorsements. The National Conference of State Legislatures notes that vote-by-mail has been adopted by red and blue states alike, with safeguards such as signature verification, secure ballot drop boxes, and chain-of-custody procedures. • Proven success. States that use mail-in voting, including Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii, regularly achieve some of the highest voter participation rates in the nation. • Security affirmed. The Brennan Center for Justice and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have both confirmed that vote-by-mail is safe when paired with standard election security measures. Efforts to eliminate mail-in ballots would not only undermine decades of proven success but also disenfranchise millions of voters, including seniors, military members, people with disabilities, and rural residents who rely on this option to cast their ballot securely. I urge you to strongly oppose any attempt to restrict or eliminate vote-by-mail. Instead, please continue to protect and strengthen it in all its forms so that every eligible voter can participate safely and reliably. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to safeguarding our democracy.