Rae Oliver Davis

It keeps the decentralization. If we are worried about nefarious actors, the last thing we want as a Congress is the Federal Government being the clearinghouse for elections and registration and vote counting.

These mandatory paper ballots--again, I alluded to--what technology may exist in the future to help us lessen the lines in polling places?

Nobody thinks that connecting voter systems to the internet is a good idea.

Voter-verified paper ballots are the solution that really address the risks and threats that our Nation faces.

A fundamental right of our Nation is the ability to choose our leaders. The American people deserve to have that right protected.

This is just a provision that goes back to the top-down approach that I believe the Majority is taking.

It is disappointing for the American people, who deserve a bill that allows them to trust in their election system and have their votes preserved and protected.

H.R. 1 fell flat in the media and with public opinion.

Election security should not be a partisan issue, and I am, frankly, disappointed that our majority chose not to work with our Republican colleagues.

Voter fraud is voter fraud. It is illegal in existing law. This act doesn't change that.

This is a bill that preserves the system that we have, which is a decentralized election system, which allows for less opportunity for nefarious actors and foreign entities to be able to do nefarious things.

This is simply more of the same.

Paper and risk-limiting audits really are the gold standard of election security and will address the national emergency our Nation faces.

It seems like H.R. 1 to me.

We ought to shoulder that responsibility if we are--we should not require a 25-percent match.

If my colleagues across the aisle and I can agree on one substantive thing on election security, it is that there is still a need for funding for State and local election officials.

I certainly appreciate the vital role States and counties play in administering elections, but it is the duty of the Federal Government to help States respond to this national security.

Let's stop playing games.

I have a lot of concerns about election security, because my home State of Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Elections, was part of an initial attempt by nefarious actors to get information.

Though I agree that the Federal Government has a responsibility to States to assist with States' election administration, I want to make it clear that this is not the sole responsibility of the Federal Government.

Let's be clear. If this markup and this bill is about foreign interference only, we are also missing the point about making sure our election officials have the resources that they need.

I ask for a roll call vote.

Mandating States to use paper ballots is a Federal overreach.

Right now, the Federal Government has the lowest approval rating by the American people than any time in history.

That is why we need to be serious about this.