Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has called for the immediate resignation or removal of U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Christy McCormick after she made statements promoting unfounded claims about election interference during a recent roundtable discussion on election integrity. The event, sponsored by the America First Policy Institute, featured McCormick making allegations that Democrats rely on illegal votes—remarks that were first reported by Democracy Docket and widely condemned as misleading.
McCormick, one of four commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, serves on the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a body tasked with supporting fair and secure elections nationwide. Commissioners are expected to remain independent, nonpartisan, and impartial in carrying out their duties. Read said McCormick’s comments violated that expectation and damaged public trust in the democratic process.
Read’s statement condemned what he described as dangerous rhetoric that undermines faith in American elections. He emphasized that the United States was founded on the principle of free and fair elections, which have been defended for generations at great sacrifice. Read asserted that McCormick’s statements dishonor those efforts and betray the public’s trust. He urged that McCormick either step down voluntarily or be removed from her position, warning that misinformation within institutions responsible for election oversight erodes the integrity of democracy itself.
The Election Assistance Commission plays a vital role in safeguarding the nation’s voting systems. It accredits independent laboratories that test voting equipment, certifies those systems for use, and audits federal funds distributed to states under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, known as HAVA. The commission also provides technical guidance to state and local election officials, offering best practices and voluntary voting system guidelines designed to ensure election security and reliability. In addition, the EAC serves as a clearinghouse of information, sharing data, research, and procedures to improve election administration across the country.
As Oregon’s top elections official, Read also serves as a member of the EAC’s Standards Board, a 110-member body established under federal law to help carry out the commission’s responsibilities under HAVA. The Standards Board includes representatives from states and territories who work collaboratively to promote consistent, transparent election administration.
Read’s call for McCormick’s resignation underscores a growing concern among election officials nationwide over the impact of misinformation on public confidence in the voting process. His remarks reflect a broader pushback against partisan claims that have fueled distrust in election outcomes since 2020. In Oregon and elsewhere, election administrators continue to emphasize that the nation’s voting systems are secure, well-regulated, and routinely audited for accuracy.
The controversy surrounding McCormick’s comments places renewed attention on the importance of neutrality among federal election officials. The EAC was established to help states navigate the complexities of election technology and funding while maintaining nonpartisan integrity. Any perception that commissioners are engaging in partisan advocacy risks undermining the very confidence the commission was created to protect.
As of this week, McCormick has not publicly responded to Read’s call for her resignation or removal. The EAC itself has also not issued an official statement regarding the incident. Read’s office, however, maintains that accountability is essential to preserving the public’s faith in elections, warning that falsehoods from within government institutions pose as much danger to democracy as those spread from outside it.