Election Security Is Key for Voter Turnout: Florida Rep. Lee

Security advocates for elections said that the 2022 midterm elections are a good example of what happens when voters have faith in the system. One voting rights lawyer said more needs to be done to ensure that everyone has a voice.

A hearing was held by the Subcommittee on Elections, Committee on House Administration, to examine the impact of tightened security measures on voter participation. Rep. Laurel Lee (R.Fla) stated that tighter security has had a greater effect on voter turnout.

“It’s simple: When voters have more confidence that their ballot will count, they are more likely to vote,” Lee said.

Lee pointed out that although Florida is considered to be a relatively secure election system, this was not always true. She explained that Florida’s reforms to improve election integrity were born out of an election that had been rigged. “hanging chad” A popular late-night joke on talk shows was this one in 2000’s presidential election.

The outcome of that race between George W. Bush & Al Gore was not known until three weeks after it occurred. This was due to problems tabulating votes from districts that used a punch card system. The U.S. Supreme Court finally resolved the dispute.

Lee explained that Florida officials learned their lesson that year.

“Today, Florida is home to an effective elections code, procedures, and safeguards,” She spoke to the subcommittee.

Lee stated that officials in Georgia, Ohio, and Louisiana took steps to improve election integrity. All reported records for turnout at the 2022 midterm elections.

She explained that every state has taken steps to improve security. Ohio and Louisiana provide free photo IDs to eligible voters who do not have one. Lee also stated that Louisiana has plans in place for unexpected events like weather emergencies.

“We should celebrate those states, like those represented here today, that have continually found ways to improve their process and build voter turnout and confidence,” Lee said.

It’s important who gets to vote

However, one witness before the committee stated that it was equally important to determine who can vote and how many.

“The fact is that some people—predominantly voters of color—face barriers to the ballot box that make it more difficult and more costly for them to vote than for other people,” Damon Hewitt, president and executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, said.

Hewitt claimed that his organization dealt with cases in the past where state laws, threats, and disinformation were used as a means to suppress minority votes. Hewitt spoke of the Civil Rights struggle as well as the 1965 Voting Rights act and said that the fight for minority votes is ongoing.

“Black voters and other voters of color continue to face unnecessary obstacles to casting a ballot,” Hewitt stated.

Hewitt claims that the U.S. Supreme Court did a major blow to minority voting rights when it struck down parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Shelby County v. Holder ruled that states do not need to have proposed election laws cleared and approved by the court before they can be implemented. This requirement was added to the original law after some states had used taxation, literacy tests and other unfair requirements in order to suppress the minority vote.

The court ruled in 2013 that such practices no longer constitute a factor, and states didn’t need to make laws before they can use them.

Hewitt claimed that laws have been passed prohibiting ballot drop boxes, limiting early vote, and making it harder to apply absentee ballots.

“This is not success,” Hewitt. “Democracy demands more.”