Payne, Jr., Colleagues Request President Trump Investigate Nationwide Voter Suppression

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) joined other House Democrats in a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting that any federal investigation into voter fraud include an analysis of voter suppression and disenfranchisement.

The Members noted that 14 new state laws implementing voting restrictions went into effect for the first time in 2016, largely as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in 2013 to strike down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The Members also noted that in addition to passing harsh laws, including strict photo ID requirements, many states have closed voter registration locations and moved polling places out of largely minority districts.

“We write regarding your recent call for an investigation into alleged voter fraud in the 2016 Presidential election,” the Members wrote. “As an initial matter, claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 Presidential election are largely unsubstantiated. Inquiries conducted thus far have not revealed any evidence of widespread voter fraud, nor is there evidence substantiating your claim that ‘3 to 5 million illegal votes’ were responsible for Hillary Clinton’s popular vote win. Nevertheless, we are writing to demand that any investigation your Administration conducts into voter irregularities in the 2016 Presidential election include a thorough investigation and analysis of voter suppression and disenfranchisement.”

Click HERE for a pdf of the letter.