4 Oregon GOP Governor Hopefuls Split on Vote-by-Mail Ahead of May 19 Primary

4 articles · Updated · Statesman Journal · May 11

Four leading Republican candidates for Oregon governor used interviews before the May 19 primary to press election-integrity changes while stopping short of a unified push to scrap vote-by-mail.
Danielle Bethell and Ed Diehl said Oregon should tighten ballot-harvesting rules, require proof of citizenship and improve voter-roll security, while both acknowledged mail voting remains popular with voters.
Christine Drazan pointed to her 2025 bill that would have made in-person voting the default, required voter ID and counted only ballots received by Election Day instead of up to 7 days later if postmarked on time.
Chris Dudley took the lightest position, saying voters want confidence in secure elections but declining to make election-system changes a priority, instead emphasizing education, the economy and livability.
The debate lands in a state where Democratic leaders have vowed to defend Oregon's long-standing vote-by-mail system after Republican lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to end it in 2025.

With federal rules challenging state laws, what does the future of mail-in voting look like for Oregonians?

Could technology offer a new path for election integrity, bypassing the debate over paper documents and mail delays?

How can voter confidence be balanced with accessibility when new security measures face legal and logistical hurdles?