It has impacted how we are holding todays hearing. People are putting themselves at risk every day, from doctors and nurses to first responders, postal workers and many others, including poll workers. We know that covid19 has con. Any do not. We can do our work in a safe, secure, online format. The highest levels of the federal government have already decided the circumstances of the covid19 pandemic by Holding Virtual hearings, that includes a house and senate, which of Health Virtual hearings like this one. It includes the Supreme Court, which has modified how it conducts its oral arguments. And it includes executive agencies which have recognize need forimacy and the remote proceedings by participating in those conducted by conference by congress and the Supreme Court. As we begin, i want to remind our members and participants of a few things that will help us navigate this new platform. We are holding this hearing in compliance with the regulations of Committee Meetings pursuant to House Resolution 955. The rules of the hearing are unchanged. Generally, the committee will keep microphones muted to limit background noise. Members will need to unmute themselves when seeking recognition or when recognize for their five minutes. Witnesses will need to unmute themselves when recognize for their five minutes, or when the answer question, not unlike when we are in our committee hearings. Members and witnesses, please keep your camera on at all times, even if you need to step away for moment during the proceedings, do not leave the meeting. At this time, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend the remarks and that any written statements be made part of the record. Hearing no objections, so ordered. And we turn to todays important topic. Today we will examine the impact election19 pandemic on administration and voters ability to freely and safely access the ballot. It has become clear that across that access to the ballot in november is in jeopardy if we do not make substantial investments in our election infrastructure and improve remove longstanding barriers that continue to keep far too many from exercising their right to vote. Over 19 has tragically claimed the lives of nearly 113,000 americans. There are more than 2 million confirmed cases nationwide. Our response must address the severity of this emergency. The general election is less than five months away, and many Health Experts warm we could see a resurgence of the virus in the fall. In fact, the number of covered cases is still increasing in 19 states, according to the latest information. In the interim, states continue to hold primary elections, change election procedures to respond to the changing landscape, and prepare for the prospect of conducting a National Election during a Global Pandemic. A number states postpone their primaries, while others come a voters were forced to go to the polls, risking their health for their right to vote. Are still come in several states, including most recently, georgia, the number polling places have been slashed, subjecting voters to hours long lines in the midst of a pandemic. Choices made by states have varied widely would for example, california it will send a mailin ballot to every registered voter for the november election, while the ohio state house recently advanced a bill that would make it harder for its citizens to vote in november. Mailed orand d. C. Will mail absentee ballot applications to voters for at least the primary election. At least six states have expanded eligibility requirements to qualify for absentee ballots. Others have fought expansion of absentee ballot access, exacerbating the landscape. Decisions made now will govern castillions of americans their ballots. During all this confusion and uncertainty, the president is waging an insidious campaign to so distrust by spreading false hope that vote by mail is rife for fraud. Voting by mail by mailin ballot is not new. The truth is, millions of americans, including the president and members of his administration, cast a ballot by , withvery election cycle exceedingly rare instances of fraud. Five states already conduct vote by mail elections, according to the National Vote at home coalition. What than one million balance have been mailed out since 2000 with less than a dozen cases of proven fraud. States and localities undeniably have a significant role in carrying out elections, but Congress Must not abdicate its responsibility. We must assure every eligible american can access the ballot box without endangering their health and with the steadfast faith in our democratic process. During the many hearings held by the committee and subcommittee throughout the 160 is congress, we have explored issues that affect the ministration, Election Security, Voting Rights and access, and protected the integrity of our democracy. New and complex dimensions as americans cast their ballot during a Public Health crisis. Thesecommittees communities most vulnerable to Voter Suppression now also disproportionately bear the impact of covid19. Todays hearing will expand upon these issues. We will hear from colleagues who represent districts into states that of hell primaries during the pandemic, as well as experts in Voting Rights, election reform, and from secretaries of state charged with carrying out elections. Americas postal workers are also represented in todays hearing. As the use of mailin ballots increases, postal workers and the Postal Service have a vital role in ensuring all voters receive their ballots and that ballots are securely and timely returned. In march, the cares act included a muchneeded down payment of 400 billion to help states and local Election Officials prepare for and respond to covid19. However, much more is urgently needed. And heroes act includes the plan to improve access to the ballot and ensure no voter is forced to choose between their health and voting. No excuse absentee voting, expanded early voting, prepaid return postage and selfsealing voterpes, mail and all ballots and a time of emergency. Voting should be safe and accessible. Whether you choose to vote at home or in person, states need adequate resources and planning to prepare for november. There is much work to be done. I now recognize the Ranking Member for any Opening Statement he would wish to make. Quick thank you, madam chair. Its great to work with you, as a long member of the Minority Party on this subcommittee, really proud to be joined by my me ongue who is also with the house and ministration committee. Think you to all of our colleagues in those witnesses who are joining us today. As a nation, we are facing a number of crises and not just related to the coronavirus in elections. Evermore critical than that our Electoral Systems are efficient, trustworthy, and secure. As a subcommittee we had the opportunity today to do the work that the American People demand of us. I am committed, as ive always been, to ensuring that every eligible american is able to freely vote. I cannot surrender or dilute the sanctity of a single vote and risk undermining the integrity of our elections. I believe many of the changes proposed by the majority during this congress would do just that. Today, as we explore how the coronavirus has and will continue to impact the ministration, many conditions proposed by the majority were proposed prior to the coronavirus. One included sameday registration, required early voting, and required the counting of provisional ballots, all items Speaker Pelosi has once again put forward. Put forthers recently have nothing to do with limiting the spread of the virus. For example, allowing us to do ballot harvesting would likely have the opposite effect. Other ideas may have merit and i welcome the opportunity to explore them at this hearing. When it comes to issues of Election Administration, i the National Association of secretaries of state raise concerns over federally appropriated funds in letteres act, i sent a expressing my willingness to explore this, but also put forward my own ideas about how to reform the elections process. There have been four separate pieces of legislation along with my colleagues along with my colleagues, mr. Walker and others. Legislationced meant to strengthen not only our elections but also if theres a way to strengthen our democracy at the federal level without trampling on the rights of our states, we are on board. However, i want to be very clear about our policy priorities, which are informed by the work of this committee over the last 18 months. First, live ballot should not be mailed to those who did not request one. This is especially true in states like california, where Voter Registration lists have not been maintained, leading to situations like in Los Angeles County where potentially 1. 5 million ineligible voters sit on the rolls. Second, we must not allow nationwide unlimited ballot harvesting. Finally, we must not allow ballots returned or postmarked after election day to be counted, nor must we allow ballots returned before election day to be counted early. These proposals risk the integrity of our elections process and are frankly irresponsible. If we can move past these items, madam chair, you will find a willing partner in me. The question then is, where do we begin . We have three priorities. All voters who choose to vote in person must be able to do so safely. States that wish to expand their vote by mail in absentee operations must do so without sacrificing the security of the vote. This must include voter list maintenance, this one requirement if enforced could dramatically introduce the time many voters have to spend in line to significantly reduce the number of personnel needed to administer an election. And three, states and the federal government must Work Together to ensure the American Public viewed the 2020 election with legitimacy. Critical to all three of these priorities is vote by mail. I support states that are taking steps to increase their capacity for mailin voting, but to presume that every state should or even can dramatically increase this capacity is ridiculous. Two states include represented today had less than 4 of voters participate in the last election to cast an absentee ballot. It would be two more the realities of election Day Administration and the very real lack of equipment to make such a transition. Some of which takes months to manufacture and deliver. Initially the department of Homeland Security has worn states against reducing in person voting locations in favor of vote by mail as it could have a dramatic effect on voter access, lines, and congestion. This is exactly what happened in milwaukee where in person voting locations were reduced from over 100 to just five. Further, you have state populations who have never voted by mail before that suddenly do so with little to no Public Education would disenfranchise these voters. Election officials reject almost 2 of ballots cast by mail for a variety of reasons. This is double the rate of in person voting. That is also a Voting Rights issue. I do not have the time to discuss every policy proposal or to reiterate that our effort cannot and will not in here today. Look forward to hearing from our witnesses. I yield back. Thank you, mr. Davis. Now we will begin our testimony. I just want to make sure the panel understands that they will be recognized for five minutes. I will ride every witness that their entire written statements will be made part of the record and that the record will remain open for at least five days for additional materials to be submitted. A reminder to all our witnesses, there a timer on the screen. Please be sure you can see the timer and are mindful of the five minute time limit. Our first panel, we will hear from two of our colleagues who represent districts and states that have held primary since the pandemic began. As is our custom, we will not ask our colleagues any questions. First is representative marcy kaptur from the ninth Congressional District of ohio. It stretches 141 miles along lake eries coastline from toledo to the west side of cleveland. The congresswoman is currently the longestserving woman in the history of the u. S. House of representatives. She currently serves as a Senior Member of a House Appropriations committee where she chaired the subcommittee on energy. Further, we will have congresswoman gwen moore from the fourth Congressional District of wisconsin. She is the first africanamerican elected to congress from the state of wisconsin. Prior to becoming a member of congress, congresswoman moore represented the people of wisconsin in the state house of representatives from 1989 to 1992 and in the state senate from 1993 to 2004. She is currently a member of the house ways and means committee. Please proceed. Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity to address your important subcommittee who have taken a leadership role among the covid19 epidemic including authoring the heroes act with key provisions to streamline Election Administration. Your subcommittee. Thats conducted a thoughtprovoking oversight hearing which i had the pleasure of participating in. Thank you for your strong, continuing leadership. Voting is a right, not a privilege. Womens suffrage, civil rights and lgbtq movements have made us get closer to our constitutions aspirations. At this time, our franchise is in danger. President trump and his allies are trying to undermine confidence in absentee voting and by association, our electoral system. Let me be clear, there is a transparent attempt to use every conceivable ploy to delegitimize elections and distort the results. We must rise above their partisan antics to ensure that every american has equal access to the ballot in those ballots are able to be filed and counted with precision. Ohiosing places election in suspended animation. Our 17 primary election was days march after the president declared a National Emergency on march 13. The scale of the epidemic became apparent, Ohio Governor mike dewine acted to postpone in person voting. Unfortunately, this set off a chaotic series of events jeopardizing our fundamental right to the franchise. Voter turnout plummeted. Absentee ballots and early Voting Results were held in advance. The Legal Process to change and cancel in person voting was rife with disorder. Chaos ensued as litigation stretched into the night. Voters and poll workers did not know whether the polls would be open or closed when they awoke on primary election day. Eventually, the primary was rescheduled to april 28 with nearly two million voters requesting absentee ballots in a very confusing process. Unfortunately, despite an unprecedented surge in the number of requests, voter turnout april 28 reached just over 20 . Well below the historic average. In 2016, the primary turned out voters with 43. 66 . This was likely due to the additional steps required to request a ballot. Delays. Arriving late, [inaudible] cumbersome absentee belt request process, and the failure to automatically send ballots to people with prepaid return postage led to fewer voters and less participation. This is disenfranchisement, plain and simple. In addition to the logistical challenges, ohios underwater as a result of the increased cost. With unnecessarily restrictive voting laws and republican oneparty rule and a resistant ensnaredre, and hyo is in laws purposely designed to make voting more restrictive. For example, the Ohio Legislature is debating 8b680, which would rollback early voting and not mail votes for the november election. This will suppress the vote. A recent study by the Brennan Center estimates ohio and its localities would now bear as much is 82 million in unfound election cost before november. The cares act allocated 400 million for election grants to the state. 12. 8 million goes to ohio. Unfortunately, these funds are inadequate for what is required as state and local budgets face major budget cuts. Mitch mcconnell must get the heroes act over the legislative finish line with its 3. 6 billion for state and local government. We cannot have any cutting of corners that will place the franchise at even greater risk. I applaud them for initiating a Factfinding Mission to ensure the fall election is conducted with rigor. The challenge is great, and congress has the tools to avoid a disastrous turnout. We must meet this real challenge to our democracy. The question is do those in charge have the will . I know you do, madam chair. I hope your Ranking Member does. With tens of millions of newly unemployed with more people take to the streets, too Many Americans are having their votes suppressed. We therefore have an even greater obligation to use every tool in our arsenal to administer universal, free, accessible, and safe and fair fall elections. Thank you very much. Thank you for holding this critical hearing. All we ask for here in ohio is a fair fight, not one that should be rigged