Donald Trump is expected to launch a commission on “election integrity” Thursday, following up on his unsubstantiated claim that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in the last presidential election.
The president will sign an executive order directing the commission to review alleged voter fraud and voter suppression in the U.S. voting system. Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach will head the commission.
(Photo: Getty Images)
“The Commission will review policies and practices that enhance or undermine the American people’s confidence in the integrity of Federal elections,” an official told The Daily Caller on background. “This will include reviewing laws and activities that lead to improper registrations, improper voting, fraudulent registrations, fraudulent voting, and voting suppression.”
Those being considered for the commission are: Connie Lawson, who is the secretary of state of Indiana, Bill Gardner, the secretary of State of New Hampshire, Matthew Dunlap, the secretary of state of Maine, Ken Blackwell, the former secretary of state of Ohio and Christy McCormick, the commissioner for the Election Assistance Commission.
The commission will meet for the first time this summer and is expected to issue a report next year, according to ABC News.
Just days after he was sworn in as president, Trump told a group of congressional leaders that he lost the popular vote because millions voted illegally, but didn’t provide evidence. He later tweeted that he would launch an investigation into the voter fraud.
“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and…” the president tweeted at the time, “even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!”
I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes, but in November, Trump said he would have won the popular vote against Hillary Clinton if “you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.”
In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016