New York Rep. Joe Morelle is leading the Democrats’ national voter protection effort. It includes public education, national threat assessment, and congressional oversight ahead of midterms.
On Monday, he didn’t mince words in a press call with nonpartisan nonprofit Try and Stop Us and other federal and state leaders, saying that he believes Republicans are afraid of losing on Election Day.
“Elections belong to the American people, not Donald Trump and not Congressional Republicans,” he said.
Morelle and advocates point to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict mail voting and gain access to voters’ sensitive information as proof the administration is trying to interfere.
“This is about Donald Trump and the Republicans being terrified of the American people and trying to make sure they stop the verdict of which they fear the American people are going to deliver to them on Nov. 3.
In a statement to Spectrum News 1, White House Spokesperson Lauren Bis said in part:
“President Trump has done more than any other President to ensure we have free and fair elections. Every American should be asking why the radical Left continues to fight against commonsense election integrity measures, like Voter ID and citizenship verification to make sure only Americans decide our elections. While extreme Democrats and the media continue to dismiss concerns about voter fraud, the Trump Administration is taking decisive action to protect our elections including prosecuting election crimes, strengthening election infrastructure security, and protecting vulnerable voters from fraud and coercion. President Trump is making clear that anyone who illegally votes in our elections will be held accountable.”
“I think it’s important for people to know that actually this administration has engaged in a concerted effort to undermine our elections for a year and a half now, and at every turn the tactics that this administration has engaged in have fallen flat on their face,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, senior director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
On social media on Monday, New York state Attorney General Letitia James released a video message to her followers saying in part: “I want to say loud and clear, voting early by mail is the best possible way to ensure your vote is counted. New Yorkers are busy, but voting by mail can be done in your own home.”
With elections being run at the state level, the New York Republican State Committee, when reached for comment, blamed state Democrats’ policies as a means for interfering with elections, telling Spectrum News 1 in a statement:
“New York Democrats have been trying for years to rig our elections to consolidate absolute power,” said David Laska of the New York State Republican Party. “They’ve tried three illegal gerrymanders, only to be stopped cold in state and federal courts. They rammed through laws moving important local elections to even years, implementing an unconstitutional no-excuse absentee voting scheme, and are now proposing yet another constitutional amendment to allow partisan gerrymandering. Republicans will fight for free and fair elections so that New Yorkers, rather than the Albany Democratic machine, can decide who represents us.”
This debate continues as President Donald Trump’s approval rating hits a new low.
Three national polls found his approval between 33% and 36%. According to the polls, Americans aren’t happy with how Trump has handled the economy, blaming high gas and grocery prices.
The polls also found “Democrats lead Republicans by between eight to ten points among registered voters.”