In Speech on the Senate Floor, Senator Hassan Discusses Importance of Protecting Democracy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined her colleagues on the Senate floor to speak about the importance of protecting democracy.

This week, Congress is set to pass bipartisan legislation, which Senator Hassan cosponsored, to reform and modernize the Electoral Count Act.

To watch Senator Hassan’s speech, click here.

Here are some highlights from Senator Hassan’s floor speech:

“The acceptance of the outcome of these elections, so that our country could continue to function, grow, become more inclusive, and thrive, has been essential. Not just for the sake of stability, but for the sake of a democracy in which the government is truly responsive. Truly ‘of, by, and for the people.’”

“As we all know, in November, in state after state, including New Hampshire, democracy was on the ballot. There were in fact candidates who questioned the sacred right to free and fair elections. Individuals who expressed their willingness to overturn the 2020 election and their willingness to try to reject or overturn election outcomes in the future if their preferred candidate didn’t win. I want people to think for a moment about what this means. These candidates were open in their willingness to reject the votes of their fellow citizens – leading to a system in which those in power are unaccountable – and therefore unresponsive – to the people they claim to represent.”

“Voters recognized the real threat posed by those who would undermine our democracy. They saw the need to reject those who would disenfranchise them. They used their votes and their voices to stop those who would have otherwise jeopardized our democracy. In November, democracy prevailed. But that does not mean the work is over.”

“In Congress, this means that we must continue to fight for access to the ballot box and reinforce and share a commitment to accepting the results of elections. We can do that by supporting legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. And this week we will take an important step forward by passing the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act. And across the country, we must continue to do what the American people did this year -- reject those who would end democracy as we know it.”

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