Democrat on voter fraud panel defends its existence

MANCHESTER, N.H. — New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner defended both his role on President Donald Trump’s election fraud commission and the panel’s existence Tuesday as it began its second meeting amid persistent criticism that its ultimate goal is voter suppression.

Gardner, a Democrat, has faced calls to resign from the commission since last week, when its vice chairman, Republican Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, alleged that thousands voted illegally in New Hampshire last year because they registered using out-of-state driver’s licenses.

Kobach argued the numbers are “proof” that voter fraud helped elect Democrat Maggie Hassan to the U.S. Senate, though state law allows college students and others to vote without obtaining New Hampshire driver’s licenses.

Gardner, the nation’s longest-serving secretary of state, said his participation on the panel is in keeping with New Hampshire’s long tradition of civic participation, from being the first colony to declare its separation from the king of England to hosting the first-in-thenation presidential primary every four years.

“I want to first direct my comments to the people of New Hampshire because some are questioning why I am here,” he said.

“New Hampshire people are not accustomed to walking away or stepping down from their civic duty, and I will not, either.”

He also defended the commission, saying that while the group’s ability to reach consensus is threatened by the partisan reaction it has evoked, its work is just getting underway and it has not yet reached any conclusions.

“In order to live free we must have a stable election process to keep the confidence of our citizens. This is, in a nutshell, why this commission was established,” he said, referring to New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” motto.

Protesters outside the meeting had their own take on the motto, however, holding signs that read “Vote Free or Die.” Joining them in calling for the commission to be dismantled was former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat and founder of Let America Vote.

“This commission was formed to justify the biggest lie a sitting president has ever told,” he said. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”