Congressman Charlie Norwood Press Release
CONTACT: JOHN STONE PHONE (202) 225-4101 FAX (202) 226-0776 http://www.house.gov/norwood
September 20, 2006

When Illegal Aliens Become Illegal Voters

 

(Washington, DC) - Remarks by the Honorable Charlie Norwood of Georgia to the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 20, 2006:

In support of the Federal Election Integrity Act, H.R. 4844

 

“Mr. Speaker, today we deal with an issue that could likely determine the long-term fate of our republic.   We deal with voter fraud.   

 

The U.S. constitution, and the constitutions of the several states clearly define the legal requirements to vote. A voter must be a minimum age.  They must be citizens of the United States.  Each voter may only vote once.   

 

I don’t think anyone in this body will argue against those requirements.  Our debate is over how do we enforce them.

 

A tamper-proof photo ID is the only practical way to prevent the mass input of fraudulent votes into our system.  That was the recommendation of the non-partisan Federal Election Reform Commission headed by Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Former Republican Secretary of State James Baker.

 

It is also the opinion of 80-90% of the American public, in every poll taken on this issue.

 

My state of Georgia in fact has already passed just such a requirement.  They have even gone back and amended that law to include free state-issued photo IDs for anyone who needs one. But that’s not good enough for some.

 

Yesterday, State Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford Jr. ruled that requiring a photo ID, in his opinion, is unconstitutional, because it imposes a duty on the voter not specifically required in our state constitution. 

 

He did not address the fact that without a photo ID, the illegal votes of hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens could negate the legal ballots of hundreds of thousands of our citizens. 

 

He did not address the fact that without a photo ID, tens of thousands of partisans could fraudulently vote in another person’s name, and cast multiple ballots, negating the legal ballots of our citizens.

 

He did not address the fact that the legal voters of Georgia have spoken loud and clear, over and over, through their lawfully elected representatives that this measure is needed and desired.

 

He did not address that the Constitution of the United States guarantees to each state a republican form of government, and this ruling directly conflicts with that perfect right of the citizens of Georgia.

 

Our Governor and state legislature must fight this tyrant in Georgia. 

 

But we can speak loud and clear against those who show this contempt against the right of American voters across our nation. 

 

We can stop election fraud today by voting for this magnificent restoration of our Constitutional rights by my friend and colleague, Chairman Hyde.

 

Defend the Republic.  Support this bill.  Thank you, and I yield.”

 

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CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE NORWOOD 2452 RAYBURN BUILDING WASHINGTON,DC 20515 www.house.gov/norwood