Hank Johnson: “I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Fudge, for organizing this Special Order, and also my Whip, Steny Hoyer, for being…”

“I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Fudge, for organizing this Special Order, and also my Whip, Steny Hoyer, for being intimately involved in this. The right to vote is a fundamental right. And this right is under attack. It's the Tea Party Republicans that have raised the false specter of voter fraud at the polls. Study after study documents that most, if not, all voter fraud occurs during the absentee voter process. And the Tea Party Republicans have done nothing to alleviate that voter fraud. Instead, they've declared open season on in-person voting. Now, why would they do that? They have the nerve to claim that their voter ID laws will protect the elections that are allegedly riddled by fraud. But they're really trying to fix a problem that does not exist. All across America oppressive voter suppression ID laws are propping up. My home State of Georgia is one of the States of shame. It has strict voter ID laws. And earlier this year, more than 30 other States introduced legislation to require government-issued IDs for voting. The requirement that all voters present a government-issued photo ID, or if you live in Texas a concealed carry permit, before being able to cast a regular ballot will disproportionately disenfranchise minorities as well as seniors, the disabled, students, and poor people who are less likely to have or carry a photo ID.…”