[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E84]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION INTEGRITY ACT OF 2009

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                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2009

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2009. This legislation would take 
the long-overdue step of prohibiting chief state election officials 
from taking part in the political campaigns of Federal candidates in 
elections over which the officials have supervisory authority.
  As a former President of the League of Women Voters in San Diego and 
a proud American voter myself, I know that election officials are 
entrusted with a crucial responsibility for our democracy. Their only 
allegiance must be to the will of the voters, not to partisan political 
agendas.
  I think we can all agree that an inherent conflict of interest exists 
when a state's chief election official is responsible for monitoring 
and certifying the results of a Federal election while actively 
participating in the campaign of one of the candidates in that 
election.
  In recent years, multiple Secretaries of State have captured national 
attention and incited great controversy because of their political 
involvement in elections they were responsible for overseeing.
  Although such individuals may be honorable public servants with no 
improper intentions, it is of the utmost importance for the integrity 
of our democracy that we provide legal safeguards to ensure the public 
trust is never violated.
  This is not a partisan issue. The record shows that officials of both 
parties have in the past held these two types of positions 
simultaneously. Rather, this is an issue of preserving the American 
people's faith in the integrity of our democracy.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to offer this important 
legislation to protect the public's trust in the electoral process.

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