Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff said “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
US House Democrats attempt to use the current crisis to take over voting in all States.
The 1,800 page H.R.6800, the HEROES Act, the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act”, passed the House 218 – 199 on 5/15/20. Click here for GST comments about the rest of H.R.6800.
New Hampshire Representatives Chris Pappas (CD-1) and Anne Kuster (CD-2) both voted for it.
Click here for a 90 page “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act” summary.
The H.R.6800 summary, on Page 71, presents DIVISION P – ACCESS Act, including the following provisions.
Section 160001: The “American Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act” or “ACCESS Act”.
Section 160003. Early Voting and Voting by Mail.
• Requires at least 15 consecutive days of early voting.
Goes into effect in the November 2020 election and for each succeeding federal election.
o Requires the early voting period to be no less than 10 hours each day, to have uniform hours for each day, and to allow for voting prior to 9:00am and after 5:00pm.
o Requires polling places with early voting periods to be located within walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route and to be available in rural areas of states.
o Requires that processing ballots cast during early voting begin at least 14 days prior to election.
• Ensures that every voter can access no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail.
Goes into effect in the November 2020 election and for each succeeding federal election.
o Prohibits states from imposing additional conditions or requirements for eligibility to vote by absentee ballot upon individuals who are already eligible voters.
o States cannot require any form of identification to obtain an absentee ballot, although requiring a signed affirmation of identity is permitted.
o Prohibits states from requiring notarization or witness signatures to obtain or cast an absentee ballot.
o Voters can opt-in to voting permanently by absentee ballot by mail in absentee voting applications.
o Every voter can submit an online request for an absentee ballot.
• With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies declared from 120 to 30 days before election.
o Requires states to automatically mail absentee ballots and balloting materials to all registered voters no later than two weeks before election day.
o Requires a voter to attest that the voter has not and will not cast another ballot.
• Provides standards for absentee ballots cast by mail.
o Permits voters to return absentee ballots by mail, by casting it at a polling place on election day, by submitting it at a designated ballot drop-off location, or by designating another person to return the ballot to the post office, a ballot drop-off location, a tribally designated building or an election office.
o Requires states to begin processing and scanning ballots cast by mail at least 14 days prior to election.
Section 160004. Permitting Use of Sworn Written Statement To Meet Identification Requirements.
• If a state has a voter identification requirement to cast a ballot in-person or by mail, an individual may make a sworn written statement attesting to their identity to fulfill the identification requirement.
Section 160007. Voter Registration.
Goes into effect in the November 2020 election and for each succeeding federal election.
• Voters can register to vote, submit voter registration application, and update voter registration information online.
• Online voter registration services also available by using an automated telephone-based system.
• All eligible individuals can register to vote on the same day that they vote.
• Prohibit requiring voter registrants to provide more than the last 4 digits of social security numbers.
Section 160009. Payments by Election Assistance Commission to States to Assist with Costs of Compliance.
• For party-run primaries, requires payments to political parties for costs incurred in transmitting absentee ballots and balloting materials in the 2020 primary elections.
The “American Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act” or the “ACCESS Act”:
This bill attempts a Federal take over of Election Law and eliminate many protections against fraud.
It would impact and undercut the integrity of Election Laws in most, if not all States.
Specifically, H.R.6800 undercuts NH election laws in a variety of areas where it:
Enables “Mail-in-Voting” of ballots to all registered voters for 2020, with all of it’s opportunities for fraud.
Eliminates most protections afforded by in-person registration and voting.
Provides the opportunity for “vote harvesting” by enabling “another person to return the ballot.”
Eliminates voter identification requirements in favor of affidavits attesting to identity.
But our NH Representatives, Democrats Chris Pappas (CD-1) and Anne Kuster (CD-2) voted for that.
You can click on their names for their contact information.
We need to elect a Taxpayer-friendly Legislature in DC (and in Concord) in 2020!
Or at least Representatives that can prioritize New Hampshire interests over their liberal agenda.
Posted by GST Chairman Ray Chadwick