Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan will host Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott, advocates, and formerly incarcerated individuals on Friday, May 14 at noon for an hourlong discussion about voting rights in Oregon. In particular, Secretary Fagan and the panel participants, in the lead up to the special district election on Tuesday, May 18, will highlight the often confused ability of formerly incarcerated individuals and people who have received felony convictions to vote.

“Too many people in Oregon think they don’t have the right to vote if they were previously convicted of a felony or who were formerly incarcerated,” Secretary Fagan said. “I have seen it as a candidate and during my time as Secretary of State - it’s just not true. Our upcoming election on May 18 features critical questions about the future of our communities. Everyone should know their rights and exercise their right to vote.”

Joining Secretary Fagan for the discussion, Mythbusters: Understanding Your Right to Vote with Oregon Justice Resource Center, will be:

• Bobbin Singh, executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center (OJRC).
• Tim Scott, Multnomah County Elections Director.
• Trevor Walraven, Administrative Coordinator and Outreach for the Youth Justice Project at OJRC.
• Zach Winston, Policy Director at OJRC.
• Jackie Whitt, a tradeswoman, who uses her experience as a formerly incarcerated individual to give power and voice to those who cannot access theirs yet.
• Joshua Cain who is a recently released youth lifer who is using his life experience to advocate for reducing criminal behavior and recidivism, while encouraging criminal justice reform.

Some have criticized Secretary Fagan for spending too much time enhancing voting opportunities for felons, while paying too little attention to removing ineligible voters from the voter rolls.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-05-14 01:35:18

Last Update: 2021-05-14 09:39:10