The Oregon Elections Division shut down its phone lines on Oct. 17 after the system was “overwhelmed” by out-of-state callers responding to false information circulating on social media, according to an announcement by the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division.
By 2:45 p.m., the office had posted on its website that “Both the Elections and Corporation Divisions have closed for the day due to elevated safety concerns.”
Callers were responding to false information about why former President Donald Trump does not appear in the Oregon voters’ pamphlet, which was mailed to voters on Oct. 16.
“Social media posts have been falsely claiming this as election interference, when it is in fact a decision made by the Trump campaign,” according to a news release from the Secretary of State’s office….