HYDE-SMITH: BIPARTISAN COOPERATION NEEDED FOR ACCEPTABLE ELECTION INTEGRITY REFORMS

Press Release

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today used a hearing on election security to stress the need for bipartisan cooperation to assure voter confidence in the integrity of the federal election process.

Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Rules Committee, which conducted a hearing titled, Emerging Threats to Election Administration.

"Public trust in our government depends on ensuring our elections are conducted fairly and without compromise from any source. Protecting the rights of voters and election integrity should be a bipartisan process, not a partisan talking point," Hyde-Smith said.

While some testimony and questioning focused on advocating passage of the Democrats' third partisan-driven election reform measure (S.2747), Hyde-Smith questioned Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams on that state's successful enactment of voter ID and election reform laws despite political divisions.

Adams testified that photo voter IDs, in part, increased credibility in the election process. He also said Kentucky's election reform legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support because it balanced the security and access priorities of both parties.

"I am just hopeful that we can capture some of that Kentucky spirit here in the U.S. Senate and learn to pursue legislation that can bring us together and achieve overwhelming support, just as you did in Kentucky, rather than one-sided partisan measures that only further divide our body," Hyde-Smith said.

Adams concurred, "When Congress has been at its best, as with HAVA [Help America Vote Act of 2002], folks have come together across party lines, and I hope we're able to do that again."

Hyde-Smith last week voted against proceeding to the partisan S.2747 because it would supersede Mississippi's voter ID law, force federal mandates on all aspects of voting, and establish a public financing scheme for congressional elections, among other things.

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