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Dear Oregonians,

False information around elections is as prolific as ever, and elections officials have taken many steps to protect public trust in our democracy (with some success!). Even with the conspiracies, outright lies, and uncertainty around AI technology, I believe 2024 will be the most secure election in history. That’s because officials in Oregon and around the country are doing the necessary work to protect our democracy.

This year, my office will be participating in the Trusted Info 2024 campaign, a national effort to ensure voters have accurate information. We will be using helpful tools that provide us with real-time information so we can respond to false information online. And, critically, we will be actively monitoring threats and attacks against our election infrastructure and people. My office is committed to protecting the people and systems that make our democracy work.

You can learn more about election integrity and all the ways we work to keep elections secure by visiting our website.

Sincerely,

LaVonne Griffin-Valade
Oregon Secretary of State

Secretary Griffin-Valade testifies in support of legislative resolutions honoring two incredible Oregonians: Steve Druckenmiller and Bill Bradbury

The Legislature is well on its way to passing two resolutions this session in honor of two Oregonians who passed away in 2023 and who were dedicated to protecting our elections systems and democracy. Senate Concurrent Resolution 211 was passed in memoriam of Steve Druckenmiller, who served for 37 years as Linn County Clerk. Senate Current Resolution 204 was passed in memoriam of Bill Bradbury, who served for a decade as Oregon’s 23^rd Secretary of State.

Steve Druckenmiller was a fierce believer in election integrity, a champion of vote-by-mail, and widely recognized as an election expert throughout the state and the country. He oversaw 141 vote-by-mail elections and 28 poll elections during his career. Former Secretary Bradbury is responsible for transforming our elections system by establishing ORESTAR, Oregon’s online political campaign contribution system, and by establishing Oregon’s vote-by-mail system 24 years ago — the first in the country.

Secretary Griffin-Valade submitted testimony in support of both these resolutions. It was her honor to recognize the incredible legacy left by both men.

Elections Division: Fostering partnerships through a tabletop training exercise

In February, the Elections Division attended the spring conference of the Oregon Association of County Clerks (OACC). A major highlight of the conference was a tabletop training exercise held to coordinate efforts across multiple local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for the 2024 elections. The exercise was attended by elections officials from all 36 of Oregon’s counties, representatives from our office, representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and representatives from other state and federal partners, including the FBI and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

The goal of the exercise was to expose elections officials to realistic scenarios that may occur during an election. In doing so, elections officials could explore strategies on how best to prepare for and respond to such scenarios and protect Oregon’s election infrastructure. The topics covered included physical security of elections offices, threats to elections administration, the proliferation of misinformation, and cybersecurity risks. Thanks to exercises like this and the partnerships fostered, 2024 will be the most secure election in Oregon’s history.

Audits Division: Announcing the 2024-25 Annual Audit Plan The Audits Division released its 2024-25 Annual Audit Plan in February. The plan outlines the agencies and programs the division plans to audit in the coming year, provides an update on the status of previously announced audits, and outlines our risk assessment process. Division director Kip Memmott joined Secretary Griffin-Valade in testifying before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to share the audit plan with legislators. You can watch their presentation here. The division also released its performance audit of the Oregon Medical Board. The Oregon Medical Board (OMB) regulates doctors, physician assistants, podiatric physicians, and acupuncturists, with the mission to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of Oregonians. In addition to licensing and education, OMB also investigates and disciplines licensees for violating Oregon’s Medical Practice Act. The board receives roughly 700 to 800 complaints a year. Auditors found the board could do more to ensure its disciplinary decisions are consistent and equitable. Read the full audit on our website.

Archives Division: Your photo could be the next cover of the Oregon Blue Book

We’re looking for the cover of the next Oregon Blue Book! Amateur photographers who live in Oregon are invited to submit images to the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest going on now through October 27th. Learn more at the Blue Book photo contest page.

The Archives Division will be publishing social media content in March for Women’s History Month including material from our collection about some of the women from Oregon who helped shape our state. We can be found at Facebook and Instagram by following @OregonArchives.

Constituent Services: Most commonly asked topics

The Secretary of State’s Office receives many requests for information or assistance each month. Below are some of the most common topics constituents reached out to us about last month, and helpful information related to those topics. If you need assistance, contact us at oregon.sos@sos.​oregon.gov.

1. Where can I find business registration forms on your website?

Most business registration forms can be found on our website here: State of Oregon: Business - Oregon Business Corporation

2. What do I do if I would like to submit written testimony or testify to the Legislature on a bill?

Instructions for submitting written testimony on a bill can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) website here: OLIS Help Testimony (oregonlegislature.gov)

Instructions for testifying in committee hearings can be found on OLIS website here: OLIS Help how-to-testify (oregonlegislature.gov)

Find information on committee meeting schedules here: Oregon Legislative Information System (oregonlegislature.gov)

3. Who oversees and regulates charities and non-profits organizations? I would like to submit a complaint.

The Department of Justice Charitable Activities Section supervises and regulates the activities of charitable organizations.

Find more information on their website here: Charities - Oregon Department of Justice : Charitable Activities (state.or.us)