Since the 2018 midterm election, news cycles have been flooded with stories of voter suppression and attacks on election integrity. In Texas, officials launched a mass voter purge based on inaccurate data. In Arizona and South Dakota, legislators are attempting to make it harder to vote early or via absentee ballot. These moves threaten to disenfranchise numerous voting-eligible Americans, with young Americans disproportionately affected.
Amid these attacks on voting rights, Oregon is acting to improve access to the ballot box for all eligible voters and removing barriers for young people. Under Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) leadership, Oregon has emerged as a national leader for voter empowerment, being the first state to adopt and implement automatic voter registration, the game-changing policy adopted by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Unlike other states, Oregon has resisted harmful measures such as strict voter ID laws or prolonged disenfranchisement of people with felony convictions. Instead, the state’s emphasis on free and fair elections contributes to Oregon consistently having one of the highest voter participation rates in the country.
Please join CAP and Generation Progress for an intimate conversation with Gov. Brown about the current state and future of U.S. elections and how places like Oregon can serve as a model for state and federal leaders. The conversation will include a discussion of the role young voters play in determining the future of our democracy, as well as the governor’s 2019 pro-democracy agenda. Audience members will be able to engage directly with the governor through Q&A.