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Dear Oregonians,
Earlier this month, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) hosted its annual conference. The conference offered an incredible opportunity for Secretaries of State to come together to share best practices and find collective solutions to common concerns.
I mention this because I have been deeply impressed by how effectively my colleagues from both the Republican and Democratic parties are able to set politics aside and work together for the betterment of our constituents. Despite our differences, we find common ground at NASS.
As conference attendees were traveling home, an abhorrent act of political violence targeted Presidential candidate Donald Trump, killing one individual and injuring two more. NASS issued a public statement in response that echoed many of my same sentiments. Political violence in all its forms is wholly unacceptable.
NASS’s success is evidence that the divisions in this country can be bridged. While recent events have made many of us worry that we’re too divided to work together, I know this isn’t true.
I hope that our leaders in Washington, D.C. can put their differences aside and fight to protect our democracy. Everyone should feel safe to participate in the electoral process at all levels by running for office, attending rallies, and voting. I stand with Secretaries of State across the country in our shared commitment to ensuring the safety and security of elections officials and all of you as voters.
Sincerely,
LaVonne Griffin-Valade
Oregon Secretary of State
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