Oregon Elections Division Clarifies Miscommunication on Trump in Voter Guide

Man speaking at podium with "TRUMP" sign.

Oregon’s Elections Division faces a flood of calls due to misinformation about Trump’s absence from the state’s Voters’ Pamphlet.

At a Glance

  • Trump’s campaign did not submit information for Oregon’s Voters’ Pamphlet despite reminders
  • False claims on social media triggered an influx of calls to the Secretary of State’s Office
  • Trump will still appear on all Oregon ballots for the upcoming election
  • The Secretary of State’s Office received approximately 400 calls, some including threats
  • Officials emphasize the need to combat misinformation and false claims of election interference

Misinformation Sparks Controversy

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has been inundated with calls following the spread of false claims about Donald Trump’s absence from the state’s Voters’ Pamphlet. The controversy arose when conservative social media accounts incorrectly framed the omission as intentional election interference, despite Trump’s campaign failing to submit the necessary information for inclusion.

The Oregon Republican Party confirmed that Trump’s absence from the pamphlet was due to his campaign’s failure to submit information, not because of any deliberate exclusion. Despite this clarification, the Secretary of State’s Office received approximately 400 calls, some of which included threats of harm or death, prompting officials to implement additional safety measures and report threats to law enforcement.

Official Response and Clarification

Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade addressed the situation, emphasizing the need to combat misinformation and false claims of election interference. The office clarified that Trump will still appear on all Oregon ballots for the upcoming election, despite his absence from the Voters’ Pamphlet.

“Oregonians who need assistance will now have to wait because some individuals operating in bad faith are misleading people online,” Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said in a statement. “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.”

To manage the influx of calls and ensure the safety of staff, the Elections Division temporarily closed its phone lines. Oregonians seeking election information are directed to visit OregonVotes.gov or contact the Elections Division via email.

Social Media Amplification

The misinformation gained traction after a post from the Libs of TikTok account on X (formerly Twitter) amplified the false claims. In response, X added a note to the post explaining that Trump did not pay the fee to include a statement in the pamphlet, further highlighting the importance of fact-checking in the digital age.

The Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet does list Trump as a candidate and notes that he declined to provide a statement. This incident underscores the challenges election officials face in combating misinformation and maintaining public trust in the electoral process.

Impact on Election Operations

The flood of calls and misinformation has had a tangible impact on the Oregon Elections Division’s operations. With phone lines temporarily shut down, officials expressed frustration at how false narratives hinder their ability to provide accurate information and services to voters in need.

As Election Day approaches on November 5, the Secretary of State’s Office continues to emphasize the importance of relying on official sources for election information. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining election integrity and the critical role of accurate public information in the democratic process.

Sources:

  1. Misinformation about Trump’s absence from Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet leaves secretary of state inundated with calls
  2. Oregon elections phone lines closed after a flood of conspiracy calls
  3. Flood of calls about Trump’s absence from Oregon voter guide causes shutdown of Elections Division phone lines