House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) claimed on Thursday that the polling problems occurring after Georgia’s primary elections this week were part of a broader Republican effort to suppress the vote around the country.
“What we saw in Georgia the other day was shameful,” Pelosi said during a press briefing. “It was either a disgrace of incompetence, or a disgrace of intention to suppress the vote.”
The Speaker said the failing equipment and hours-long lines that plagued Tuesday’s primaries in the Peach State — particularly around Atlanta, the state’s largest city — are part of a larger “pattern” of election hurdles erected by GOP leaders “because they’re afraid of voters,” The Hill reported.
“Time, it’s all about time. The time it takes you to vote, 4, 5, 6 hours or more in certain neighborhoods, 20 minutes or so, or less, in other neighborhoods. It really requires certain scrutiny, because it looks like part of a pattern on the part of some to suppress the vote. And some have even admitted,” she said.
She also alleged that similar occurrences are likely to emerge in the November general election. “But it is also a prelude to what could happen in November,” Pelosi said. “[It’s] all part of the Republican playbook … because they’re afraid of the voters, they’re afraid of the vote.”
Georgia’s primary elections on Tuesday quickly descended into chaos in parts of the state, as a combination of failed voting machines and fewer polling sites — a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus pandemic — led to hours-long lines at polling stations in and around Atlanta, as reported by The Hill. Continued Below
The state’s Republican leaders, who had adopted new equipment following reports of irregularities and voter suppression in the 2018 midterms, have blamed the troubles on county officials, while also vowing to investigate the situation, per The Hill.
Pelosi also tweeted on Thursday: “What we saw in Georgia during Tuesday’s election was shameful. It was either a disgrace of incompetence or a disgrace of intention. Whichever it was, our response must be to inoculate our elections against predictable threats and protect voting rights nationwide.”
Donald Trump Jr. fired back at Pelosi’s comments over the reported waiting time to vote, pointing out that the House Speaker said “nothing” when “it comes to looting and rioting”. Video Below
“Crazy Nancy just said ‘long lines for voting’ in Georgia were ‘shameful’ and a ‘disgrace.’ This is how she responds when Americans are engaged and excited to exercise their most sacred right as a citizen!” Trump Jr. expressed. “But when it comes to the looting and rioting, nothing? Now THAT’S shameful,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
Last week, Pelosi showed up in D.C., outside of the Capitol, to join protesters against the death of George Floyd. She wore a mask and was accompanied by her usual entourage of staff and members of her security detail while walking through the crowd.
Crazy Nancy just said “long lines for voting” in Georgia were “shameful” and a “disgrace.” This is how she responds when Americans are engaged and excited to exercise their most sacred right as a citizen! But when it comes to the looting and rioting, nothing? Now THAT’S shameful.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 11, 2020
Pelosi’s official remarks:
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Nancy Pelosi’s tweet:
What we saw in Georgia during Tuesday’s election was shameful. It was either a disgrace of incompetence or a disgrace of intention. Whichever it was, our response must be to inoculate our elections against predictable threats and protect voting rights nationwide. https://t.co/uNrkxfoq4n
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 11, 2020
Meanwhile, Biden claimed Wednesday night in an appearance on “The Daily Show”: “This president is going to try to steal this election. This is a guy who said that all mail-in ballots are fraudulent, voting by mail, while he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in a primary.”
.@JoeBiden thinks Trump will try to steal the election and has an idea of what will happen if Trump loses and refuses to leave the White House. pic.twitter.com/rsy6EXTMhN
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 11, 2020
The president for months, however, has railed against the moves by states controlled by Democrats and some Republicans to expand voting by mail amid the coronavirus outbreak.
MAIL-IN VOTING WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE FRAUD AND ABUSE. IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO THE END OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY. WE CAN NEVER LET THIS TRAGEDY BEFALL OUR NATION. BIG MAIL-IN VICTORY IN TEXAS COURT TODAY. CONGRATS!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
