HR 1 would put the Washington swamp in charge of elections

One reason that Democrats pursued their second sham impeachment of President Donald Trump is to distract the nation from a myriad of leftist policies they are implementing. One of the very worst is a renewal of their effort to put D.C. swamp monsters such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in charge of all elections.

The far Left wants to take control of local elections and prevent states, counties, and cities from running elections. They also want to eliminate voter identification, a requirement in most states and one that the Supreme Court has upheld. Leftists also want taxpayers to pay for the campaigns of politicians.

These crazy ideas, which will undermine the integrity of all our elections, is priority No. 1 of the Democratic Party. It was the first bill Pelosi and company introduced when Democrats took control of the House in 2019. It was stopped cold by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But when Democrats took control of the House, Senate, and the presidency in January of this year, it was once again the first bill introduced by the Democrats.

One doesn’t need to look too far to understand why liberals want to centralize election procedures in Washington. They believe that the changes they propose will keep Democrats in power in perpetuity and reduce the role of Republicans. And after all, the purpose of everything Democrats do is not to benefit the nation; it is to keep Democrats in power. By taking control of elections away from the local jurisdictions that have constitutional authority over elections, the political party in power can create a system that favors that party staying in power.

Democrats want to eliminate voter identification requirements. Most rational people want to know that voters are eligible to vote and want to prevent fraud, such as duplicate voters. That is why most states impose minimal voter identification requirements. Without voter ID, it is simply easier to commit voter fraud. Democrats want to erase voter ID so they can cheat.

Buying alcohol, guns, or a house, taking out a loan, and cashing a check all require presentation of identification. But Democrats want to eliminate that requirement on voting, the foundation upon which our representational, republican form of government is built.

Adding a finger in the eye to taxpayers is the proposal by Democrats that everyone pay for the campaigns of politicians. Why should my tax dollars go to pay for the campaigns of politicians with whom I vehemently disagree? Why should conservative taxpayers be on the hook for politicians such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and others who are way to the left? For that matter, why should a liberal taxpayer be burdened to pay for politicians on the Right such as me, Rep. Matt Gaetz, or Rep. Jim Jordan?

Of course, this piece of legislation, H.R. 1, does more than give Washington control over all elections, eliminate voter ID, and require taxpayers fund politicians. It requires ballot-harvesting and nationwide mail-in ballots, which even former President Jimmy Carter acknowledged is the surest way to voter fraud, among other outlandish ideas that will ultimately render the voter irrelevant.

The public should let its elected representatives know that it opposes this takeover. State legislatures should let their federal counterparts hear from them. State attorneys general should prepare the lawsuits that will be necessary to dismantle this unconstitutional and unfair voting scheme.

And all members of Congress should work to defeat and slow down this horrendous policy promoted by the Left.

Andy Biggs represents Arizona’s 5th Congressional District.