Power

Trump’s Voter Suppression Efforts Start Now

Given today's testimony, it is clear Kris Kobach is trying to steer the commission toward legislative recommendations that could suppress the vote in the 2018 election.

The commission promised to meet at least four more times. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity—also known as the Vice President Mike Pence–Voter Suppression Life Coach Kris Kobach “Voter Integrity” Commission—held its first hearing Wednesday, and it was a doozy.

The Trump administration has touted the commission as a necessary step in order to protect the integrity of our electoral process. President Donald Trump represented this claim Wednesday, even as accusations of Russian electoral interference and collusion with his campaign continued to swirl. Despite this “bipartisan” attempt at electoral reform, the policy change touted by the commission falls right in line with Republican legislative favorites like implementing a national voter ID bill and repealing the National Voter Registration Act, otherwise known as the “Motor Voter Bill.” Rewire‘s Ally Boguhn has this report from the commission meeting.

The commission promised to meet at least four more times. Given today’s testimony, it is clear Kobach is trying to steer the commission toward legislative recommendations that could suppress the vote in the 2018 election: