Oregon Secretary of State Calls for Resignation of Federal Election Official Over False Illegal Voting Claims

Federal Election Official Under Fire for Claims Linking Democrats to “Illegal Citizens”

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read called for the immediate resignation or removal of Christy McCormick, a member of the federal Election Assistance Commission, following controversial remarks she made suggesting Democrats rely on non-citizens to win elections.

McCormick sparked outrage during a Wednesday panel at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank closely aligned with former President Donald Trump. During the hour-long discussion on election fraud, McCormick claimed, “They need open borders, they need illegal citizens to increase their votes. And this is why they’re fighting so adamantly against us to try to prevent that from happening.”

Read, a Democrat elected in 2024 who serves on the commission’s 110-member standards board, issued a strong rebuke of McCormick’s statements.

“It’s un-American to spread lies that sow fear and paranoia in the heart of our democracy,” Read said. “Our founders built this nation on free and fair elections. Generations of Americans fought and died to defend them. Commissioner McCormick’s false claims dishonor that sacrifice. She betrayed the trust of the people she was meant to serve.”

The Election Assistance Commission, while not directly managing elections, plays a crucial role in the electoral system. The independent agency accredits laboratories that test voting systems, certifies those systems, and develops comprehensive guidance for state election officials across nearly every aspect of election administration.

During the panel discussion, McCormick also claimed her household received seven mailed ballots for California’s current election on mid-decade redistricting, with only two intended for her family members. She admitted considering casting the other five ballots “just to see” if they would be counted.

This statement raised additional concerns about McCormick’s understanding of ballot verification procedures. Both California and Oregon have established safeguards that encourage voters to report erroneously received ballots and employ signature verification systems that compare signatures on ballot envelopes with those on file to verify voter identity.

The Election Assistance Commission was established in 2002 as an independent, bipartisan agency. Its four commissioners are presidential appointees, currently consisting of two Republicans—McCormick and Donald Palmer—and two Democrats—Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland. Despite their party affiliations, all commissioners are expected to maintain impartiality and independence in their oversight roles.

McCormick has a history of controversial positions on election security. Originally appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014, she later publicly dismissed reports of Russian interference in the 2016 election as “deceptive propaganda perpetrated on the American public” by the Obama administration, according to reporting by ProPublica. She subsequently served on an advisory commission created by President Trump following his unsubstantiated claims that millions of people illegally voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The timing of this controversy comes during an ongoing government shutdown, limiting the agency’s ability to respond. An automated email response indicated that the Election Assistance Commission’s spokespeople are currently furloughed without access to their official communications.

The incident highlights the growing tensions surrounding election administration and security in the United States. As the 2024 election cycle intensifies, debates about voter access, election integrity, and the role of federal oversight bodies like the Election Assistance Commission are likely to remain at the forefront of national political discourse.

Election administration experts note that such statements from officials charged with maintaining election integrity can potentially undermine public confidence in the electoral system at a time when trust in democratic institutions faces significant challenges.