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PROTECT OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND STOP CORRUPTION


Last week’s elections provided encouragement to progressive voters, but underscored serious threats to our electoral system:

  • Gerrymandered districts denied voters the ability to fairly elect their representatives
  • Voter suppression tactics disguised as rules to deter voter fraud discouraged voters and may have altered election outcomes
  • Enormous sums of dark money distorted races
  • Insecure and unreliable voting systems and the lack of auditable paper ballots undermined public confidence

The Democrats elected to the House have said they intend to enact legislation to ensure that our elections are free and fair and that curbs are placed on public corruption. Their first legislative initiative, H.R. 1, is expected to:

  • Discourage gerrymandering by requiring independent commissions to draw legislative boundaries
  • Reinvigorate the Voting Rights Act, which was crippled by the Shelby County decision, and expand the franchise by mandating automatic voter registration
  • Overturn the Citizens United decision that unleashed dark money in campaigns
  • Subject the president to conflict-of-interest laws, require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, and expand anti-bribery provisions

We must insist that Congress push for all of these needed reforms.

The strength of our democracy depends on the integrity and strength of our electoral system.

 


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because the 2018 elections underscored serious threats to our electoral system. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, dark money, and inadequate election security undermine the fairness of our election process. The rampant corruption and conflicts of interest in the Trump Administration must also be checked. I ask Senator [Wyden/Merkley] to push for strong legislation in 2019 to address all of these threats to our democracy. Thank you.”

SENATOR RON WYDEN 

Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/


**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN*

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].  I am calling because the 2018 elections underscored serious threats to our electoral system. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, dark money, and inadequate election security undermine the fairness of our election process. The rampant corruption and conflicts of interest in the Trump Administration must also be checked. I ask Mr. Walden to push for passage of H.R. 1 – 2019 to address all of these threats to our democracy. Thank you.”

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me