Columbia Standard

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt have voiced their opposition to the Democrats' plan for a federal election takeover during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act.

Senator Graham criticized the proposed legislation, stating, "This bill is an effort to rewrite federal law [to] make it harder for states to implement voter verification." He expressed concerns that the bill would prevent states from validating who is voting, emphasizing the importance of protecting voting rights.

Representative Hunt, a former Apache helicopter pilot, emphasized the significance of having a government-issued ID for elections, stating, "Having a government-issued I.D. isn’t racist, it’s American." He also criticized President Biden's characterization of the Georgia voting law as 'Jim Crow 2.0,' calling it offensive to those who have actually experienced Jim Crow.

Hunt further argued that the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act is not about protecting voting rights but rather about solidifying Democratic power nationally. He urged lawmakers to reject the bill, stating, "It's about federal control over state and local elections, which by the way is unconstitutional. It's about diminishing the security of our elections."

In his closing remarks, Representative Hunt urged his colleagues to uphold progress and reject the Democratic Party's attempt to revert to outdated practices, saying, "If you want to be on the right side of history, you should reject the Democratic Party’s attempt to wind the clock back 70 years because I’m sitting right here in front of you, and I’m here to tell you, we’ve come a long way. Let’s continue this progress."

The opposition from Senator Graham and Representative Hunt highlights the ongoing debate over voting rights and election integrity in the United States, with both lawmakers advocating for the protection of voter identification and secure, state-run elections.