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Bill Ensures Transparent and Fair Elections and Increases Criminal Penalties for Interference
 
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) joined in support of the Securing Our Elections Act, introduced earlier this year by Kelly Loeffler (R-GA). The legislation would help to ensure fair elections and increase criminal penalties for bad actors who attempt to interfere with America’s election system, whether that be through illegal and fraudulent ballot harvesting, voter intimidation or identification theft.
 
The Securing Our Elections Act will hold accountable those who intentionally attempt to deprive or defraud Americans of a fair and impartial election process by increasing the current penalty of up to five years in prison to five to 15 years and up to a $100,000 fine.
 
“Free and fair elections are fundamental to our nation’s democratic process,” Rubio said. “Americans’ confidence in the process is just as important as the outcome and critical to ensuring our 244-year democratic experiment continues to thrive. I’m proud to join Senator Loeffler in supporting this legislation to hold bad actors fully accountable for unlawfully attempting to interfere in our elections.”
 
“The American people deserve transparent, fair and free elections,” Loeffler said. “I’m thankful Senators Tillis, Cotton, Rubio, Johnson and Braun joined this effort to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that anyone who attempts to interfere in our election process is held accountable. At this critical time, we must take action to ensure every legal vote is counted and our democratic election process is preserved.”
 
“Every American should have faith in our electoral system that every legal vote is counted,” Tillis said. “It’s important to take every measure to ensure our elections are secure and free from any interference and hold those who violate our election laws accountable. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this important legislation as we continue to work towards greater election transparency.”
 
“Now more than ever, Americans need assurance that our elections are above reproach,” Cotton said. “Claims of voter fraud and ballot interference undermine the legitimacy of our government, and we must take steps to guard against attacks on our democratic process. Our bill will help safeguard our republic by stiffening the penalties for anyone attempting to impede the will of the American people.”
 
“Any fraudulent effort to impact American elections is an attack on the core of our republic,” Johnson said. “I’m pleased to cosponsor this legislation that escalates the consequences to fit the crime and holds accountable those who would interfere with elections.”
 
“Every American deserves fair elections free from fraud and interference, and bad actors who attempt to disenfranchise Americans through fraudulent ballot harvesting and identification theft should face harsher criminal penalties,” Braun said. “I’m proud to support Senator Loeffler’s Securing Our Elections Act.”