Local leaders, Wyden defend Oregon vote-by-mail system at Bend City Hall
Senator Ron Wyden joined KTVZ's 5 PM broadcast for a LIVE in-studio interview. You'll see it in the next slide above, or embedded in the article below.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Local and state leaders gathered at Bend City Hall Wednesday afternoon alongside U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to push back against federal efforts they say could restrict mail-in voting, a system long used across Oregon.
The press conference comes as former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans promote the SAVE Act and other measures that critics argue could limit vote-by-mail access nationwide. One major point of concern raised Wednesday was a recent executive order aimed at tightening restrictions on mail-in voting.
Wyden, joined by Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, State Rep. Emerson Levy and Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang emphasized Oregon’s decades-long track record of conducting elections primarily by mail.
Redmond City Councilor Kathryn Osborne pointed to research supporting the system.
“There’s been a lot of research done on mail-in voting,” Osborne said. “Those data points have come back that mail-in voting is free, secure and fair, and that has been validated numerous times by many organizations.”
Kebler sought to reassure voters that no immediate changes are in place.
“Right now, mail-in voting remains exactly the same,” she said. “I want voters to know that their ballot is going to arrive and they should send it as usual. And we hope that we will continue to have a good, strong turnout.”
Wyden criticized the push for new restrictions, calling it a political distraction and defending Oregon’s system as a model for increasing voter participation.
He also claimed Oregonians remain focused on broader issues, including health care and government transparency, while continuing to support vote-by-mail.
Oregon has conducted elections entirely by mail for more than two decades, using secure drop boxes, postal delivery and ballot tracking systems designed to ensure access and integrity.
Local officials said they plan to continue defending the system, which they argue expands participation, especially in rural communities like Central Oregon.
