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Congressman Cohen Presides at Subcommittee Hearing on Protecting the Right to Vote During the Coronavirus Pandemic

June 3, 2020

Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided at a hearing on Protecting the Right to Vote During the Coronavirus Pandemic. In his opening remarks, Chairman Cohen noted that the pandemic "has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities" affecting the rights of African Americans, and other historically disadvantaged people, to vote. He also noted that the hearing was taking place as the nation is convulsed with outrage over the pattern and practice of deadly police violence against African Americans.

In questioning witnesses, Chairman Cohen established that voting by mail during the ongoing health crisis can be done safely and securely. Our democracy depends on every citizen having the opportunity to cast a meaningful ballot.

In his opening statement, which began with a brief prayer for the peaceful future of our nation, Chairman Cohen said in part:

"This disproportionate impact reflects America's original sin – the sin of slavery and the systemic and pervasive anti-Black, white supremacist ideology that undergirded it, resulting in unequal opportunities and other consequences with which we are still grappling.,,

"The issue that we are here to discuss – protecting the right to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic – is inherently tied to the protests occurring across the Nation. Police violence against black Americans and suppressing the right to vote are two sides of the same coin – the coin of systemic racism that has plagued our country since before its founding…

"Now we are dealing with a viral pandemic that is threatening the ability of most people to vote safely in our elections, but will have a disproportionate impact on voters of color, among others. And states are being faced with a choice: will they adapt to this new reality and ensure that everyone can vote safely in November? Or will they fail to act in the face of this historic challenge?"

See the entire opening statement here.

See Chairman Cohen's questioning of witnesses here.

The witnesses at today's hearing:

  • Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, State of Michigan
  • Stacey Abrams, Chair, Fair Fight Action
  • J. Christian Adams, President and General Counsel, Public Interest Legal Foundation
  • Myrna Pérez, Director, Voting Rights and Elections Program, Brennan Center for Justice
  • Tom Fitton, President, Judicial Watch
  • Dale Ho, Director, Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union
  • Barbara Arnwine, President, Transformational Justice Coalition
  • Michelle Bishop, Disability Advocacy Specialist for Voting Rights, National Disability Rights Network

This was the first remote hearing of the House Judiciary Committee since new rules allowing for remote official committee business were adopted on May 15, 2020.