In an unexpected turn of events, Chair Tootie Smith of Clackamas County announced that county commissioners would refrain from conducting public meetings until after the imminent election. The reason cited was a pressing ‘need to tone down the heated rhetoric’ that has encapsulated the election narrative. The decision was made on the brink of a scheduled session where Commissioner Mark Shull, an unwavering republican, was intending to put forth a draft motion concerning the integrity of the election process.
The specifics of this putative proposal are still kept under wraps. On the day the announcement was made, a representative of the county declared that any paperwork tied to the draft was not ready for public scrutiny. Commissioned Mark Shull, who is yet to share his comments as of Tuesday, was out of reach for immediate reactions.
The preceding week saw numerous activists from United Sovereign Americans, a group that’s been labeled as ‘election denialist’ by The Western States Center of Portland, testifying before the board. They had drawn attention to the so-called discrepancies in Oregon’s electoral lists, thereby deeming the results of the looming 2022 elections to be dubious and thus, unlawful.
According to these individuals, their independent examination of readily accessible voter registration stats led them to conclude the forthcoming Oregon election results as a sham. Despite the serious allegations, the board has yet to respond or make a move.
In a rejoinder to the audacious claims made by United Sovereign Americans, Ben Morris, the spokesperson for Oregon’s Secretary of State, underscored that they hold ‘no credibility’. Oregon’s system of removing unsuitable voters from the active list is stringent, as per the assurances given by Morris.
Third-party inspections, like the one administered by United Sovereign Americans, are claimed to misunderstand Oregon’s electoral legislation, spawning considerable ‘confusion’ in the process. While these accusations have done little more than stir the political pot, the board remains passive, reflecting a dismissive attitude towards the democratic process.
Jumping into this feisty situation, Shull, who is a competing Republican candidate, appeared supportive of the efforts to question Oregon’s enduring vote-by-mail system. He publically urged his followers to heed to the United Sovereign Americans’ call and acknowledged them for igniting a debate on this pressing issue.
In contrast to the chaotic environment, Chair Smith remained steadfast in her faith in the county’s election proceedings, underlining the crucial role of public access and ballot security as the ‘top priority’. Despite the ongoing maelstrom, Smith gracefully held her ground, asserting her belief in the robustness of the system in play.
Smith shared that officials from different departments are liaising with the Clerk’s office so as to ensure the security measures and systems are dutifully enforced. The local law enforcement agencies are also pulling their weight by ensuring uninterrupted and safe access to ballot drop-off sites.
In the midst of all this, an unnerving development comes from the FBI, who are in the middle of probing three separate, yet interconnected instances of ballot boxes being inappropriately set ablaze both in Oregon and Washington, this month alone.
Intriguingly, Portland’s police claim to have identified a ‘suspect vehicle’ related to the case, thanks to some security footage taken from Multnomah County Elections Office. A Volvo was spotted at a drop box on Southeast Morrison Street, close to 10th Avenue, just before the flames were detected.
As part of a collective call to action, a letter is circulating amongst the elected leaders, appealing to the Oregonians to engage ‘peacefully and constructively’ in the democratic process. Amid the political din, maintaining a calm public front has gained utmost importance.
Navigating this tumultuous election phase, Smith underlined the paramount need to safeguard and foster the delicate progress made so far, and reinforced the importance of every action taken being a step towards strengthening the community rather than being a potential threat to its growth.