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Floor Speech

Madam President, in this particular case, the third time is not the charm. But I grant my colleague one thing. He says that things have changed since the last time he tried to bring this bill up for a vote or approval on unanimous consent.

What has changed, you might ask? Well, this bill actually failed to pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives just last week. Republicans attached this bill to a must-pass government funding bill, and they still couldn't find the votes, not even with the votes that they have on their side of the aisle.

So it does beg the question: What the heck are we doing here?

This is not a serious attempt to protect our elections. The only thing that this bill does--and the discussion of it does--is stoking fear that our elections may not be secure, and it creates mistrust in the outcome of elections.

So I feel compelled to take a moment to, once again, reassure all Americans that are listening today: There is no credible evidence of massive voter fraud or a massive number of noncitizens voting in our elections--no evidence, none. Let me be clear: no evidence, none.

In fact, it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections, no matter what State they live in.

In some of the conversation from some of the Senators, over the last several minutes, there has been reference to what the Federal Government may be doing to federalize elections. I will make specific reference to the motor voter law that was approved by Congress on a bipartisan basis; that, yes, directs States to do what they can to encourage civic participation and to utilize their department of motor vehicles to engage eligible voters. Since they are already interfacing with government, let's take that moment of their time--as they are already sharing name, address, date of birth, other personal information--and in addition to applying for a driver's license or a State ID, if they are eligible, to register them to vote in the process or update their registration.

And, yes, there are States in the country that do allow a noncitizen or undocumented immigrant, even, to obtain a driver's license. But I can tell you, as a former chief elections officer for the State of California--not just on behalf of California but of my colleagues across the country that I have worked with--protocols are in place. If you are a noncitizen applying for a special type of driver's license or an undocumented immigrant applying for a special type of driver's license, you go through one process. If you are a citizen, you go through another that includes that opportunity to register to vote.

Let me come back to the bottom line here again: no evidence of massive voter fraud--no evidence the last time this bill came up, no evidence today. And I doubt there will be any evidence between now and November 5--or even after November 5--because of the integrity of elections administration in the country.

Now, I have to speak to the timing. We stand here today, 41 days before this November's election. The election is already happening. For those who are familiar, ballots have already been mailed out to members of the military and other overseas voters.

In many States, the vote-by-mail ballot process has already begun. In some States, early voting is beginning. The election is happening.

But again, I sense the real motive for bringing this bill up today is an attempt to continue to inject fear and uncertainty in the minds of voters at a time where, frankly, we need calm; we need understanding; we need truth.

So, as I have in the previous objections, I will extend my invitation again today: Let's work together in a thoughtful, responsible, bipartisan manner to ensure more eligible Americans can easily register to vote, stay registered to vote, and cast their ballots.

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