"One reason I hate living in Oregon. I've sent him numerous emails, but he's an obot thru and thru."

Dear Linda,

Thank you for contacting me through Petition2Congress.org to share your views regarding the recent election. I appreciate your interest in this topic.
 

I have heard from a number of Oregonians who want more robust voter ID laws, greater oversight of the election process, and a recount of the election results.  I appreciate and share the concern for voter fraud, but as I've examined this issue, I've reached the conclusion that many of the recent voter ID laws do more harm than good.

Here is why. A recent study of in-person voter fraud found that such fraud was virtually non-existent. Only 10 cases were identified nationwide over a period of 12 years. Meanwhile, the voter ID laws create a real red-tape obstacle as citizens try to get to the polls on Election Day, having a disproportionate impact on groups including seniors, students, and minorities. 

At the same time,  I believe that we must do all we can to make sure elections are fair and transparent, and that voting is an easy and accessible process for everyone, especially members of our military. I've been a proud supporter of Oregon's vote-by-mail system and think other states can learn a lot from us. But there are undoubtedly challenges we must address to ensure that our elections accurately reflect the will of the people. After all, that is the whole point of a democracy.  

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues that matter most to you.