What safeguards are in place to prevent intimidation at the ballot box?

As you probably know, the deadline is before return your ballot will appear soon. It’s this coming Tuesday at 8pm

Many of us here in Oregon have a routine when it comes to voting. We always deliver it to the same PO Box or Box. For others, it may be an instant fix based on what seems most convenient.

Either way, every voter expects—and deserves—to be able to vote without fear.

But it was not always like that. In 2020, Springfield police added patrols around the ballot boxes in the run-up to the election after complaints about people attending political rallies near the box made threatening statements or blocked access to people trying to vote.

Some people are thinking about it ahead of this year’s election. KLCC recently set up our mobile recording booth at the Eugene YMCA and asked visitors to record their questions or concerns about the voting process. Here is one of the questions:

Dale: “I have lived in Eugene for 45 years. And this year, I am concerned about the intimidation of voters in the boxes. Because a lot of people, instead of putting a stamp on the envelope or mailing it, just That’s what I’ve always done in the past when people were just intimidated out there, I just looked tough consider it intimidation.”

KLCC Morning anchor Love Cross invited KLCC News Director Chris Lehmann into the studio to discuss the matter.

love: You heard Dale’s concern. What is in place to protect voters when they cast their ballot?

Chris: It’s definitely something that a lot of people think about during the election. In past election cycles, there have been reports of political rallies taking place near ballot boxes, and in some cases voters have complained of feeling threatened.

We put that question to Devon Ashbridge. She is the press secretary for Lane County, including the elections office. And Devon told us that they get this question a lot… and their first response is that bullying, simply put, is illegal.

Devon: “Oregon law contains several provisions aimed at protecting voters. Consequently, there are laws that make it a crime to harass election officials, use or threaten force or violence to prevent a person from voting, or obstruct a polling place. So that would include our official voter boxes as well as the election commission itself.”

love: Okay, so it’s pretty clear that it’s against the law to do anything that might prevent someone from voting, whether it’s a physical action or a verbal threat. But what about Dale’s concern about people hanging around looking, he says, “tough and mean” but not actually saying anything to you or blocking you?

Chris: On the face of it, this would probably not be a crime. But it is obvious that there is a certain subjectivity about what constitutes a threat. And despite recently caught fire at several polling places here in the Pacific Northwest, most won’t have 24-hour security to protect voters, though the Eugene Police Department says it’s stepping up patrols and surveillance cameras at polling places.

You may have heard the concept of “making a plan” to vote. If you’re worried about that, you might want to consider finding a few backup options if, for whatever reason, you don’t feel safe around your regular crate. For example, Lane County offers 21 round-the-clock drop-offincluding 10 in Eugene, 3 in Springfield, and at least one in most other communities.

You can also drop your ballot into any post office box as long as it is postmarked by 8pm on Election Day.

All that being said, the vast, vast majority of Oregon voters can safely vote in every election.

love: Another tool available to Oregonians is the state Voter protection hotlineadministered by the Oregon Department of Justice. They invite people to call with questions about access to the vote, including possible incidents of intimidation. This number is 971-673-4111.

For more coverage of KLCC Election 2024, please visit our website Election page.