WASHINGTON - The Committee on House Administration held a Full Committee Hearing today titled, “American Confidence in Elections: Looking Ahead to the 2024 General Election.”

Witnesses: 
  • Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd
  • Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose
  • West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner
  • Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
  • Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes
  • New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
In case you missed it, here are the top takeaways:
1. Will the use of photo voter ID increase Americans' confidence in their elections?

Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01): We need to strengthen Americans' confidence in our elections. I think there's some real common sense reforms that can be done to make sure Americans have that confidence in our elections. Secretary Toulouse Oliver, you referenced how do we increase that - would photo ID increase Americans' confidence in their elections?

Secretary Toulouse Oliver: I don't believe so. 

Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01): You don't believe that having an individual show their photo ID saying they are who they say they are increases confidence in our election?

Secretary Toulouse Oliver: Mr. Chairman you asked me a yes or no question, I don't think that's a magic bullet. I think there's a lot that needs to happen.

Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01): Well I'll come to you Secretary LaRose, do you think photo ID increases Americans' confidence in our elections?

Secretary LaRose: 100%, Mr. Chairman and it's vastly popular among both Republicans and Democrats.

Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01): Because it makes total sense that you should go in and show your photo ID. If you board an airplane, you have to show your photo ID. You want to buy a six pack of beer, you have to show your photo ID. If you go in to vote, it makes total sense that you should have to show your photo ID just to simply say you are who you say you are, right? 

Secretary LaRose: Absolutely.

Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01): It makes total sense. As we think about other states, I know New Mexico doesn't have photo ID law. Something maybe the state of New Mexico should look at is, per your comment, we're all working together to increase Americans' confidence in our elections. There's some real common sense reforms we would like to see in states like New Mexico that doesn't have a photo ID law.
  
Video
Click the image or here to view Chairman Steil's Q&A. 

2. Ensuring only legal citizens are on voter rolls

Dr. Greg Murphy (NC-03): I'm a surgeon. I'm very objective. Cancer doesn't know Republican or Democrat, I look at things absolutely objective. Why are deceased people still on your voter rolls? And why does it take a lawsuit by the Public Interest Legal Foundation to sue you to get those people off the voter rolls?

Secretary Benson: That lawsuit was dismissed because we actually are ranked 4th in the country as the federal judge noticed - 5th in the country.

Rep. Greg Murphy (NC-03): Do you have deceased people on your voter rolls?

Secretary Benson: We do everything we can, just like every other state.

Rep. Greg Murphy (NC-03): Should a deceased person be on your voter rolls?

Secretary Benson: No, that's why we remove them once we receive information.

Rep. Greg Murphy (NC-03): Should a person who is in this country illegally vote in any election?

Secretary Benson: No.

Rep. Greg Murphy (NC-03): What if somebody is unknowingly registered to vote in an election, they're illegal in this country, should their vote be counted?

Secretary Benson: No.
Video
Click the image or here to view Dr. Murphy's Q&A. 

3. What is the number of noncitizens that would require the federal government to implement policies to prevent noncitizens from voting?
Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (NY-04): Democrats say that there is not a significant number of noncitizens registered to vote, but yet there's still evidence of noncitizens on voter rolls. I'm going to start from left to right and just tell us, what's the red line? What is the number that we think makes it significant? What is the number that would require the federal government to implement policies to prevent noncitizens from voting in our elections, one of our most sacred rights.

Secretary Byrd: Congressman, it should be a zero tolerance policy. In Florida, in 2000, 537 votes separated President Bush from Senator Gore. Small numbers matter in elections. Our current Speaker of the House lost his first race by 2 votes. If there were 3 illegal votes that would have been overwhelming in his race. there should be a zero tolerance policy when it comes to noncitizens.

Secretary LaRose: I agree, zero tolerance. Every year, dozens of elections in Ohio come down to a single vote, and those are usually local elections, but those matter. We say every vote matters, we mean that, and we should not allow any noncitizens to be on our voter rolls.

Secretary Warner: I agree 100% with the previous two comments, zero tolerance. 
Video
Click the image or here to view Rep. D'Esposito's Q&A. 

4. Will States welcome members of the Congressional Observers Program?
Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15): One of the things that we've heard discussed during this hearing is the Election Observer Program which Congress administers across the country. This Committee runs that program and we deploy trained congressional staff and send them around as observers in election offices around America. I would like to hear from each of you if your office is prepared and ready to welcome these election observers during this election cycle.

Secretary Byrd: Yes, we welcome them.

Secretary LaRose: Proudly.

Secretary Warner: Yes.

Secretary Toulouse Oliver: Of course.

Secretary Benson: Yes.

Secretary Fontes: Happy to have them. 
Video
Click the image or here to view Rep. Lee's Q&A.