Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The GOP’s Attempts To Steal The Midterm Elections Through Radical Voter Suppression Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor on President Trump and the GOP’s attempts to steal the midterm elections with the radical voter suppression legislation, the SAVE ACT. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Perhaps it’s unsurprising that an administration and a party that is so out of touch with the American electorate and so fearful of a November washout would go to such great lengths to rig the rules in their favor. But that is exactly what Donald Trump and the GOP are doing.

Yesterday, the Brennan Center reported that more than half of local election officials are concerned that political leaders will interfere in their work. We all go to the polls, we all see these election workers. They’re dedicated. It’s an act of patriotism when they sit by the polls, and count the votes, and administer the election fairly. But Donald Trump and the GOP threaten them. I would be worried too based on what we’re seeing from Donald Trump’s party if I were an election official.

Apparently, the GOP has given up on trying to win over the electorate by delivering results, so they’re instead trying to change the electorate with their SAVE Act. It would kill online, mail, and motor registration, forcing Americans to drive – sometimes hours – to register in person. That’s hard and costly in the best of times, but especially when gas is $4 a gallon. It would purge millions of Americans from the voter rolls. It would make it harder for married women to vote. And it would reject the most common forms of IDs Americans use to register.

The only thing Republicans are trying to save with this legislation is their own skin in the next election. The only thing they’re trying to save is their own skin because they know they’re going down to defeat electorally.

If the GOP spent the same time and energy trying to deliver for working families as it does trying to rig the rules, maybe Republicans would have a chance. But that is not what they’re doing and we are going to do everything we can to stop this evil act from ever becoming law.

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