Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “whether we like it or not, on November 2 across America, tens of thousands of people were unable to cast their vote.…”

“whether we like it or not, on November 2 across America, tens of thousands of people were unable to cast their vote. Many voted and their votes were not counted. I rise to support the gentlewoman's effort from Ohio. I thank her very much. Our United States Constitution gives us the opportunity and the right to represent the millions of people that we represent daily to be on this House floor today. This is their right to speak through us on what happened to them on November 2. The rules of the House of Representatives allow us as elected representatives, representing 700,000 plus people apiece, the right to be on this floor at this time. This is the only way as we represent those people that we might express their dismay that they felt on November 2. As our leader said, this has nothing to do with overturning the election. This is why we are sent here to represent, and that is what we are doing. Regardless of what we have heard the last hour and a half, we the Members on this side of the aisle object to the process that failed many Americans on November 2. Long lines, cold, in the rain. It was in Ohio that we talk today; but Michigan, a neighboring State, had many problems. I was in my voting area called down to count the votes after the polls closed. All day long we had reports of intimidation, of men in suits intimidating my voters, asking for identification every time they went to vote all day long.”