Janice Schakowsky: “nothing is more critical to the foundation of our democracy than the guaranteed right to vote. In the 2004 Presidential…”

“nothing is more critical to the foundation of our democracy than the guaranteed right to vote. In the 2004 Presidential election, there were voters in every State, including the pivotal State of Ohio, who were denied that right; and each time it happened, the foundation is weakened. That is why I join my colleagues today in objecting to the counting of Ohio's electoral votes. I commend my colleagues in this House of the people and the Senate who are raising this objection for their courage, and I am proud to join them. There is little disagreement that irregularities did occur. The question is what are we going to do about it. It is simply not sufficient to tell the losers in this election to get over it, or to accuse them of sour grapes, or to say we are doing the best we can. It is our patriotic duty to stand up for every voter no matter his or her race or party affiliation and demand that Congress act to expand voter protection and guarantee voter rights. Once all the facts are determined, a national demand for electoral reform must force Congress to finally finish the job begun under the Help America Vote Act, HAVA, including voter-verified paper trail. We cannot simply sit back and accept the results as if nothing happened or possibly illegal activities had taken place in precincts throughout Ohio.”