Transcripts For CSPAN3 House Hearing On Voting Rights Misin

Carolina. Mr. From california, and mass mr. Raskins for maryland. As we begin, i want to note we are holding this hearing in compliance with the regulations for a Committee Hearings pursuant to the House Resolution nine 65. Generally, the committee would keep microphones muted, to limit that ground noise. Members will need to unmute themselves when seeking recognition, or when recognize for their five minutes. Witnesses will need to unmute themselves one recognize for their five minutes, or when asked for the questions. Members and witnesses please keep your camera on at all times. Even if him to step away for a moment, 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. Today, we are examining misinformation in the 2020 election. How the spread of false information harms voters, and what can be done to combat mismanagement armed with Accurate Information. This year, we cannot discuss election misinformation without also recognizing the press the persistent misinformation being spread about the ongoing covid19 pandemic. Americans need Accurate Information about how to cast their ballot, about the pandemic, and importantly, Accurate Information on how to cast their ballots in a manner that protects their health. Election day maybe for weeks from today, but voting is all already well underway. Overseas and military ballots were sent out to thousands of voters are few weeks ago. Absentee ballots can be requested now in return weeks ahead. More than 30 states are already mailin battle its to voters. Early in person voting began in many states over the last two weeks, and more will do so in the days and weeks ahead. Early voting begins in ohio today. The American People are voting, and will be voting now through november 3rd. During all of this, the president and others are waging an insidious campaign to so discord us distrust in our electoral process by spreading false claims that vote by mail us fraud, making unsubstantiated claims that the election will be rigged. Encouraging people to vote twice, which is illegal and wrong. Additionally, u. S. Intelligence agencies warned that russia has continued its then formation campaign, and attempts to interfere in our election. In 2016, when a group of americans were targeted more by Russian Internet Research Agency disinformation than African Americans. The American People deserve the truth. They deserve an election free from the real fraud of false information and Voter Suppression. The truth is, millions of americans, including the president and members of his administration, cast a ballot by mail every election cycle. With exceedingly rare instances of fraud. The truth is, as significantly more americans prepared to cast their ballot from homes here, then every before, the American People must be prepared that we may not know the winner of the election on the night of november 3rd. This does not mean anything is wrong with the election. The Election Night results are never final. Many states take days, if not weeks, to formally certify their election results. Many states also allow ballots that are mailed on election day, but received in the days after to be counted. The truth is that this is there is nothing nefarious, it is simply about counting ballots. The count must be accurate and that takes time. Every validly cast a vote should count, thats democracy. Votes mailed on election day are both cast on election day, and we should count them. Not spread fear and a lie about a rigged election. Misinformation being spread in the lead up to this years election, is a disservice to voters and a danger to our democracy. And our democratic institutions. The house passed the shield act in october 2019, which would address the spread of misinformation, including prohibiting the spread of false information about voting, but the senate has refused to act. It is our duty to assure voters have all the necessary Accurate Information they need to cast their ballots freely, fairly, and safely. During the pandemic. And with confidence in our electoral system. I think all of our witnesses for being here today, i look forward to hearing their testimony. The Ranking Member is unfortunately unable to join us today. I ask unanimous consent that his statement be made part of the hearing record. Without objection, so ordered. Each of you, as i introduce will be recognized for five minutes. I will remind our witnesses 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. Another reminder to all of our witnesses, there is a timer on the screen, please be sure you can see the timer, and are mindful of the five minute limit. Joining us today, a commissioner with the u. S. Election assistance commission, and the commissions currents chief. He has confirmed was confirmed by unanimous consent in the senate on january 2nd 2019. He previously served as acting chief counsel, for the Senate Committee on rules and administrations. Jen agrees walled, is colorados 39th secretary of state. Secretary goes rolled will began her term on january 8th 2019 shes the youngest elected secretary of state in the country. Secretary griswold has practiced international and anti correctional law. Quote as Voter Protection attorney and previously served as the director of the governor of colorados. Shepell, as a member of the yoga county board of elections. Having served since her election of april 2007. She is a partner and shows the firms Nonprofit Group overton is the president at the joint Center Political and economic studies. He is also a tenured professor at the George Washington University School of law. He previously served as Principal Deputy assistant attorney general, in the office of legal policy at the department of justice during the obama administration. It is interesting to know that we are holding this hearing, during National Voter election week. With that, i will now recognize members for their five minutes. We will begin today, with mr. Hovland you are recognized for five minutes. Good afternoon thank you chairperson and members of the committee i appreciate this opportunity to testify before you today. Regarding the u. S. Election systems commissions ongoing work in this important issue. Combatting misinformation and disinformation was one of the suspected a skews of the 2020 election. And the covid19 pandemic has only exacerbated the risk. Following the 2016 foreign interference in our election theres been an increased focused and dedication to the security of our elections. The department of Homeland Securitys designation of election structure thats critical has helped voters and coordinate efforts between federal state and local government agencies. As well as with private industry. This is led to a change of information sharing and coupled with the help [inaudible] has greatly improve the Security Posture of our elections that commitment to caring our liking has continued its impossible to discuss the 2020 election without acknowledging the impact of the covid19 pandemic. Since march and made the ongoing debates about the health of our communities and our economy Election Administrators have faced a difficult task of determining how to best about their practices and procedures to conduct safe to secure and accurate elections. At the eac we visited substantially to focus our attention on how we can support sake and a local Election Officials as they make these tough decisions. Theyve also distributed almost 1. 2 billion dollars, in grand funding to the states since 2018. This includes, 400 million from the recent c. A. R. E. S. Act funds, an additional Election Security funds authorized. These resources have proven vital to Election Administration Election Administrators have really risen to the childish during these difficult times. But the public servants, that administer luncheons can only do their best when it comes to limiting the impact of widespread misinformation and disinformation about our elections. Political campaigns and Interest Groups are spending billions of dollars to influence americans. Foreign adversaries or amplifying our divisions, and making Traditional Voter suppression tactics to dissuade participation, or provide inAccurate Information about how voters can participate. In the face of that, americans must come together, to protect our nation, the electoral process, and voter confidence. Those who cant should help encourage americans confidence in our electoral process. By highlighting the great work of our Election Administrators. Additionally, supporting efforts like the National Association of secretaries of state drove interested in for 2020 campaign, are an integral part of ensuring americans get the right information on how to participate this year. Today, we are 28 days from election day. As chair person fudge mention. Ballots have been sent all across the country and around the world, a number of states have already begun early voting. And some registration deadlines have already passed. The most important things we can focus on at this point, are the basics. Serving voters well, and helping them to have a positive experience, whether they vote by mail or absentee violet, early in person, or on election day. Misinformation or disinformation can interfere with that. We must push back, not only against this intentional misleading disinformation, but also misinformation that maybe wellintentioned, or appropriate for citizens and one state or jurisdiction, but not in others. In the d. C. Area, for example, voters are registered in one of two states, or the district. Of course, social media does not stop in the state line. The reality is, the 50 states each run elections in their own unique way. They trusted info 2020 effort that i mentioned earlier, is about helping americans get Accurate Information about Election Administration from their state and local Election Officials. This is the trusted source for each voter, which provides correct information on how to participate. With all the new ways that surrounds this election it is crucial that we encourage individuals to think through how they plan to vote most americans have the option to vote by mail or absentee ballot, early in person or on election day, we know from the centers for Disease Control that limiting congesting in the polling places will help keep voting a safe as possible. Helping americans get Accurate Information about their voting options and how they can participate this year. Ensures that voters have the opportunities to vote on or before election day. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today, i look forward to your questions. Thank you very much, commissioner, i appreciate your testimony. We will now hear from secretary griswold, you are now recognized for five minutes. Chairperson fudge thank you for your work on elections and for inviting me to this important hearing. My name is dana griswold, im colorado secretary of state. I look forward to sharing my views on combatting misinformation in the 2020 election. As colorados top election official, i believe Election Security is one of our greatest National Security risks. In Foreign Countries, interfere with our elections, it undermines faith in the entire electoral process. When voters doubt the process we are less likely to participate, which weekends the very nature of our democracy. Today i would like to briefly discuss the threats we are facing, what we are doing to combat then, and proposals for congressional action. The Intelligence Community and Bipartisan Senate select committee on intelligence, concluded that russia interfered in the 2016 election. We know that foreign enemies, primarily russia, are again trying to influence how we vote and undermine confidence in our elections. Based on reports from the, the fbi released the most pointed warnings to date, noting foreign actors may try to undermine confidence in the results. Foreign adversaries are right now, right this minute, meddling in our elections. We cannot allow this to continually happen. In response to ensure colorado remains at the forefront of election preparedness, and that colorado is remain confident in our process, i created the Rapid Response Election Security sovereignty unit. Known as rescue. The combat misinformation in emerging cyber threats. The rescue team is coordinating with partners to increase resilience to foreign misinformation on the electoral process. By implementing a Public Outreach effort to answer colorado and snow to ignore the noise and seek reliable election information. Ensuring my office can rapidly respond to misinformation on the electoral process by releasing Accurate Information. And ensuring county and non governmental partners work with us to rollout correct information. We are also working with the dhs and the fbi on additional measures. Following the election, the team will shift toward further increasing our cybersecurity defenses, and resilience to foreign interference. The team will stand up on cross date initiative to advance legislative and policy initiatives to counter foreign misinformation. On to the snow, last winter, before covid19 shut down our state legislator, i proposed legislation to combat foreign disinformation in colorado. The proposal, which i hope will become law, strengthens requirements to ensure paid election messages are not coming from foreign sources. Stop campaign, deepfake videos. Prohibits campaigns from coordinating with foreign governments. And creates a private right of action to combat election misinformation close to the election. We must ensure that Foreign Countries do not use social media platforms as a tool to suppress americans votes. Colorado is leading on this, in our democracy demands it. Congress also has an Important Role to play from legislation for appropriations and warnings to the public about foreign adversaries efforts. To tackle election based misinformation i recommend the following congressional action. First, congress it established a commission with bipartisan representatives from state governments to develop recommendations to ensure that what happened in 2016, and its happening right now, never happens again. Second, congress should provide Adequate Funding to states for election cybersecurity, with a focus on increasing resilience to focus to foreign misinformation. Third, congress should require the Intelligence Community to rapidly declassify foreign misinformation. And work with part bipartisan representatives from state and federal government to roll out this information to the american public. And fourth, congress should consider legislation like we are doing in colorado to combat deep face election misinformation and foreign coordination. To this and, i also call on congress to remove the artificial protections afforded to social Media Companies. By section 2 30 of the 1996 Communications Decency act. Social Media Companies are not neutral platforms, Third Party Content posted on their sites can promote ill intentioned for an activity. They should no longer be shielded from accountability. While social media can be a tool for good adversaries can use it to their advantage, with precision never seen before. In closing, i am grateful for this opportunity to testify today, i am optimistic that with your leadership in partnership, we can counter foreign misinformation and ensure that every american has a democracy we can believe in. Thank you. Next guest, you are recognized for five minutes. Attorney chappell, you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you for the chair, honorable fudge, and to the other distinguished members of the United States house of representatives. I appreciate the opportunity to speak. In the 13 years i have served in the ohio court of elections, including the last three president ial elections, ive never witnessed the kinds of falsehoods being disseminated about the integrity of our elections process. That ive been seeing in this president ial cycle, the light at those rampant voting fraud has been tamp down some much of the campaign to discredit the integrity of our elections process. It is on the upswing, and it is shameful. The latest on truth being circulated