Ranking Member Joe Morelle, Rep. Deborah Ross Host Raleigh, North Carolina Shadow Hearing on Election Security and Efforts to Protect American Democracy

RALEIGH, NC – Yesterday, Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY-25), Committee on House Administration, and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) hosted a shadow hearing with Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) featuring presentations from a wide range of experts about the practical and legal challenges facing North Carolina’s election system.

Experts at the shadow hearing included:

• Senior Associate Justice Allison Riggs, North Carolina Supreme Court
• Representative Robert Reives, North Carolina House of Representatives
• Karen Brinson-Bell, Principal at Advance Elections
• Terence Everitt, Executive Director, NC Voter Protection Alliance
• Paul Cox, Partner at Poyner Spruill
• John Hill, Senior Litigation Counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
• Virginia Kase Solomón, President of Common Cause and the former CEO of League of Women Voters. 

This shadow hearing takes place amid widespread concerns over potential federal intervention of elections and voting restrictions proposed by Republicans and the Trump Administration. This includes the push for the SAVE America Act and restrictions on voting by mail.
 
"In this moment, there is nothing more urgent than protecting American democracy," said Ranking Member Joe Morelle. “The election is here and we are protecting Americans right to the ballot box. Every time the Trump Administration has tried to interfere with the integrity of the midterm elections, they have lost. Over the next month, we need to remain clear-eyed about the threats we continue to face. We will fight to protect American elections. Failure, quite simply, is not an option."
 
"While the state legislature tries to rig the rules, this administration is trying to sow chaos and undermine confidence in our elections. And with just over a month until election day, the president is still looking for new ways to disrupt Americans' ability to cast their ballots," said Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02). “North Carolinians should have confidence that their vote will count this November. But it is up to us to remain diligent. [...] In order for every vote to count—and to count equally—we need to ensure that North Carolinians are guaranteed fair and equal access to the ballot box."
 
"Election administration on every level has always been a fiercely debated topic, but in a world where modern technology creates both opportunities and challenges, the importance of properly addressing election security and protecting the right to vote is more important now than ever," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). "It is clear that the Republican party in Raleigh and in Washington want to use election administration as a way to make voting difficult and strenuous on voters."
 
"North Carolinians knew what was at stake nationwide with this attack on our election, so together we spent more than 180 days working to defend the 68,000 voters' lawful votes put at risk. Our State Board of Elections continued to provide clear guidance in accordance with the law despite these efforts from disgruntled politicians. Elected officials spoke out against this attempted miscarriage of justice - including Congresswomen Ross and Foushee. During the 182 days we fought these attacks, I never felt despair. I felt inspired by the North Carolinians who never stopped fighting for their rights. Voters chose a path forward where power stayed in the hands of the people, not politicians. North Carolinians demanded accountability and spoke out for their right to vote. And justice did prevail," said North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs. "As a justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, I swore a solemn oath to defend our state and federal constitutions. That sacred obligation requires me to uphold the rule of law—and to speak out when our most fundamental rights are threatened."
 
Ranking Member Morelle and the Committee on House Administration is charged with the oversight of federal elections, including considering proposals to amend federal election law and monitoring congressional elections across the U.S.

Watch a recording of the event here.