WASHINGTON – The Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL) issued the following statement as H.R. 1 continues to advance this week, leading to a vote on final passage in the House tomorrow.

"I'm disappointed that the Democratic majority will not accept proposals, like banning the practice of ballot harvesting, to secure our election system," said Ranking Member Davis.

Ballot harvesting is a practice where campaign workers or volunteers collect absentee ballots from certain voters and drop them off at a polling place or election office. While the practice is illegal in most states like North Carolina, where we recently saw the North Carolina State Board of Elections issue a new election in the 9th Congressional District under allegations of illegal harvesting of ballots, it is legal in California. Congressman Mark Walker introduced an amendment to H.R. 1 during the committee markup that would prohibit the practice of ballot harvesting but was voted down by Committee Democrats, three of which are from California. Democrats also rejected an amendment offered in Rules Committee by a group of Members from California to prohibit the practice of ballot harvesting.

Congressman Mark Walker said, "For years, conservatives who questioned ballot harvesting – a practice where unvetted organizers can go door-to-door, collecting absentee ballots like Halloween candy – were criticized and demeaned. Now, as we see election fraud in my home state and House Democrats are rightfully calling for additional election security measures, they are rejecting commonsense proposals, fearing a breakdown of their legislated electoral advantages. Ballot harvesting is a cooking pot for election fraud and abuse, and we need to get all the cooks out of the kitchen."

"We cannot create election reform aimed at making our system more secure without tackling the clear problem that currently exists with ballot harvesting. It opens the door to ballot manipulation by allowing an unsecure delivery service from your home to the polling precinct. If the Democratic majority were serious about election security, why didn't they address this real election security threat in H.R. 1?" said Ranking Member Davis. "I completely support the assistance of delivering ballots for anyone who is unable, but we cannot be naïve to think that this practice is not being taken advantage of on a larger scale by political operatives.

To learn what the Democratic majority did address in H.R. 1 and to see the growing opposition from organizations against the legislation, click: HERE.

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