Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is criticizing the removal of the remaining members of the federal Election Assistance Commission, describing the action as a significant development in the administration of the nation’s election system just months before voters head to the polls in the November general election.
The announcement follows the termination of the commission’s final three sitting commissioners by President Donald Trump, leaving all four seats on the bipartisan federal agency vacant less than four months before one of the country’s most closely watched election cycles.
The Election Assistance Commission plays a central role in supporting election administration across the United States. Although state and local officials conduct elections independently, the commission provides nationwide oversight in several key operational areas. Among its responsibilities are certifying voting systems used by election offices, accrediting laboratories that test voting equipment, distributing federal election security grants, and maintaining the national mail voter registration form relied upon by states throughout the country.
With every commissioner position now vacant, questions have emerged about how some of those responsibilities may continue until new commissioners are nominated and confirmed through the federal appointment process. According to state officials, certain administrative functions could experience temporary disruptions while the commission remains without leadership.
In response to the dismissals, Secretary Read issued a sharply worded statement expressing concern about the timing of the action and its potential effect on public confidence in the election process.
“This is yet another attempt by the president to disrupt and sow distrust in our elections,” Read said. “It’s dangerous, it’s reckless, and frankly it’s desperate.”
Read argued that removing the commissioners so close to a major federal election could undermine confidence in the systems responsible for supporting election administration nationwide. While the Election Assistance Commission does not administer elections directly, it provides technical guidance, certification standards, and financial assistance that help states maintain secure and reliable election infrastructure.
The secretary also suggested the move reflects an effort to influence public perception of the election process rather than improve it.
“The president is looking for any opportunity to seize control over the upcoming election because he is afraid of facing real accountability from voters,” Read said.
Despite his concerns, Read emphasized that Oregon’s election system will continue operating under state law and pledged that voters will be able to cast their ballots as scheduled this November.
“Regardless of what the president says or does, we are going to have a free and fair election this November, and voters will have an opportunity to make their voices heard,” Read said.
The developments come during a period of heightened national attention on election administration, security, and public confidence in voting systems. While the federal commission provides important support to states, election administration itself remains primarily the responsibility of state and local officials, who oversee voter registration, ballot processing, vote counting, and certification of election results within their respective jurisdictions.
For Oregon voters, the immediate administration of elections continues to be carried out by the Secretary of State’s Elections Division in partnership with county clerks across the state. Those offices remain responsible for preparing ballots, conducting elections, verifying voter registrations, and certifying official results under Oregon law.
The vacancy of the Election Assistance Commission leaves uncertainty surrounding several federal administrative functions until appointments are made and confirmed. The timeline for restoring the commission to full membership has not yet been announced.
As preparations continue for the November election, Oregon election officials say their focus remains on administering the state’s election process while federal officials determine the future leadership of the Election Assistance Commission. In the meantime, the debate surrounding the commission’s vacancies is likely to become another closely watched issue as election preparations continue across the nation.