Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read reaffirmed confidence in the state’s election system Tuesday evening after President Donald Trump delivered a nationally televised address questioning the integrity of American elections and renewing claims of widespread election irregularities.
Read’s response came shortly after the President’s prime-time remarks, in which Trump repeated allegations regarding election security that have been the subject of extensive legal challenges, investigations and public debate since the 2020 presidential election. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office said the state’s election system remains secure and that Oregon voters can continue to have confidence in the administration of elections.
In a written statement, Read rejected the President’s assertions and argued that election outcomes in the United States are determined through the votes cast by citizens rather than by elected officials or political leaders.
“Too many Americans sacrificed too much to let a tired, scared politician steal our elections,” Read said.
He continued by stating that the President “is once again making false claims about American elections; repeating conspiracy theories that have been disproven time and again so he can deny any election results he doesn’t like, just like he did in 2020.”
The exchange reflects the continuing national debate surrounding election administration and public confidence in the electoral process, an issue that has remained at the forefront of American politics for several election cycles. Election procedures, voting security and public trust continue to generate legal challenges, legislative proposals and public discussion across the country.
Read also suggested that the President’s comments were tied to the approaching election season.
“He knows Americans aren’t happy. He is afraid of facing accountability from voters this November. But, in America, elections are decided by voters, not by the President,” Read said.
Oregon has conducted statewide elections primarily through vote-by-mail for more than two decades. Every registered voter receives a ballot by mail, and election officials verify returned ballot envelopes before votes are counted. State election procedures include signature verification, ballot tracking, publicly tested vote-counting equipment and post-election audits intended to verify the accuracy of certified results.
According to Read, those safeguards remain central to Oregon’s election process.
“Oregon’s vote-by-mail elections are secure, fair, and accurate, run by dedicated public servants who follow the law and answer directly to the communities they live in,” he said. “Accountability and transparency are built into every step of our election process: from unique barcodes on each ballot envelope, to publicly certified vote counting machines that are never connected to the internet, to un-hackable paper ballots that are preserved and audited.”
Election administration has become an increasingly visible responsibility for secretaries of state nationwide, with many state election officials regularly responding to claims about voting procedures, election security and ballot integrity while preparing for upcoming federal, state and local elections.
Read concluded his statement by pledging continued oversight of Oregon’s election system and emphasizing the role voters play in determining the outcome of elections.
“I want the people of Oregon to know that as their Secretary of State, I will continue to stand up for their right to hold politicians and government accountable in free and fair elections,” he said.
The President’s remarks and Read’s response add to an ongoing national conversation over election administration, voter confidence and the systems states use to conduct elections as preparations continue for the upcoming election cycle.