6 hours Ago By Scottie Barnes
The Oregon Elections Division shut down its phone lines on Oct. 17 after the system was “overwhelmed” by out-of-state callers responding to false information circulating on social media, according to an announcement by the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division. By 2:45 p.
m., the office had posted on its website that “Both the Elections and Corporation Divisions have closed for the day due to elevated safety concerns.” Callers were responding to false information about why former President Donald Trump does not appear in the Oregon voters’ pamphlet, which was mailed to voters on Oct.
16. “As the Republican candidate for President, Donald Trump will be on the ballot in Oregon,” the statement continued. Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade expressed frustration over the phone lines being inundated by out-of-state callers.
“Oregonians who need assistance will now have to wait because some individuals operating in bad faith are misleading people online,” she wrote in the release. “We need to do more as a country to discourage this kind of behavior. Spreading rumors and false claims of election interference does nothing to help Oregonians.
” Oregon voters requiring assistance can leave a voicemail at the Elections Division and their calls will be prioritized for return..
