Add as preferred on Google
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — The Trump administration is sending election monitors to Multnomah County on November 3.
On October 23, Secretary of State (SoS) Tobias Read said his office had been informed of the decision by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice the previous afternoon.
Federal Monitors Will Have No Authority Over Oregon’s Election Administration
However, the SoS has made it clear that the federal monitors will not have authority over Oregon’s election administration.
“They are allowed to observe election activities, document potential violations of federal voting laws, and raise concerns with election officials,” his office said in a press statement. “Justice Department election monitors have no special authority simply because they are Justice Department employees.”
The SoS says election rules will be strictly enforced, and any individual planning to observe the election process is encouraged to know the rules.
Authorized Personnel Will Be Allowed to Observe the Ballot Processing Procedure
The Director of Elections will allow authorized personnel to watch the ballot processing procedure. However, observers must provide written authorization signed by an officer of a political party, a candidate, or the Director of Elections (ORS 254.482).
Multnomah County Election Observer Procedures state that “at no time will an observer be allowed to interact with ballots or other materials.” Observers also may not interfere with the movement of materials or staff.
“However, there will always be someone designated to help the observer or answer questions.”
A Time Limit May be Set If Observer Space is Limited
The Observer Procedures include a clause that allows the Election Officer to institute a time limit if observer space is limited.
Observers will be provided with a set of Observer Agreements and Rules of Conduct, which they must sign. They will also be escorted throughout the Election Office to witness all steps of the process.
Sending federal monitors to the most reliably Democratic county in Oregon isn’t about ‘protecting democracy’