The next is a transcript of an interview with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that aired Sunday, January 9, 2022, on "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: For the reason that 2020 elections, Georgia has turn into floor zero within the combat over election integrity. The state's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger joins us now from Atlanta. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary. GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Good morning. MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply to remind our viewers, you turned recognized nationally within the wake of that election since you refused to succumb to stress from President Trump when he particularly requested you to cite, "discover 11,780 votes." President Biden, after all, received that state by 11,779 votes. Now you are up for re-election and you're being primaried by a Republican congressman who objected to even certifying the president's victory. I'm wondering, do you worry that sooner or later, Republican officers in your state could attempt to change the result of an upcoming election for purely political functions? RAFFENSPERGER: Nicely, the particular person I am operating in opposition to, Congressman Hice, he is been in Congress for a number of years. He is by no means finished a single piece of election reform laws. Then he licensed his personal race with those self same machines, the identical ballots. And but for President Trump, he mentioned, you could not belief that that is a double minded particular person. And as a pastor, he ought to know higher. So, I'll run on integrity and I'll run on the reality. I do not know what he'll run on. MARGARET BRENNAN: However to that time is the extent of what is at stake right here, the likelihood that an election final result in your state might be manipulated. RAFFENSPERGER: The legal guidelines that now we have in place, there have been considerations raised, however no. The outcomes would be the outcomes, and people would be the outcomes that will probably be licensed. You can't overturn the need of the individuals and so that will not matter. However on the finish of the day, I will probably be reelected, and he won't be. MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, let me ask you about one thing that the previous president claimed this week, which as soon as once more he says there was fraud in Georgia. He mentioned individuals have been being paid $10 for his or her ballots. I do know that asking a 3rd celebration to drop off your absentee poll, one thing known as poll harvesting, is against the law within the state of Georgia. However I'm wondering, has there been any proof that any of these ballots have been truly fraudulent or forged by ineligible voters? RAFFENSPERGER: It's an ongoing investigation; what I can let you know is that we simply obtained that data over Nov. 2021, a 12 months after- over a 12 months after the election, so I might like- we might prefer to want we might have gotten an entire lot sooner, however we have opened up an investigation. However nobody has alleged that these are fraudulent ballots. These have been lawful voters. And the allegation is that then they have been collected and delivered by an individual. However that is one factor that I do suppose we want is to guarantee that nationwide there must be a legislation that bans, you understand, poll harvesting. I do not suppose that poll harvesting is sweet. The one particular person I ought to contact your poll is you, and the election official. So, I feel that is one a strong election reform measure. Quantity two, I feel that we must always have a constitutional modification, a U.S. structure modification that solely Americans vote in our elections. I feel we must always have additionally picture of I.D.. We now have a photograph I.D. for all types of voting in Georgia-- MARGARET BRENNAN: Solely U.S. residents do at present vote in elections however go on. RAFFENSPERGER: However we do not have a constitutional modification. Now you see cities try to push noncitizen voting, and I imagine that solely Americans must be voting in our elections, that's supported by a large variety- a large majority of all Individuals, identical to picture I.D. supported by all demographic teams and a majority of each political events. And that is what they have been utilizing in Minnesota for over 11 years for his or her absentee balloting. In order that's one other, you understand, strong frequent sense federal reform measure in the event that they actually need to get critical about election reform. MARGARET BRENNAN: I assume there you are referring to the President and the Vice President will probably be touring to your state within the coming days. They're doing so to marketing campaign for 2 legal guidelines: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. RAFFENSPERGER: Proper, and– MARGARET BRENNAN: The Freedom to Vote Act truly does promote a nationwide commonplace for states which have an ID requirement for in-person voting. You can use a financial institution assertion or utility invoice. I'm wondering, why do you suppose Republicans– RAFFENSPERGER: It doesn't have- it doesn't have picture I.D. and picture I.D. is essentially the most safe method of utilizing and ensuring you could determine who the voter is, and I feel that is essential. After which additionally they need identical day registration, and that is simply, you understand, very troublesome for any election official to handle. And I feel that undermines belief in elections. And proper now, we have to restore belief wherever we are able to. In Georgia, we have been combating this- this theme of, you understand, stolen election claims from Stacey Abrams about voter suppression, after which 2020 was about voter fraud; each of them undermine voter belief. MARGARET BRENNAN: They could each undermine voter belief, however I am positive you draw a distinction between somebody who would not maintain any type of workplace and the president of america actively placing stress on you to search out and manufacture votes. They are not equal. RAFFENSPERGER: Jan. 6 was horrible, however the response would not have to be eliminating picture ID after which having identical day registration. And if you do not have the suitable guardrails in place, then- you then're not going to have voter confidence within the outcomes. In Georgia, we have truly elevated the variety of days of early voting. Now we have extra early voting now than New York, New Jersey and Delaware. MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I perceive. However whenever you have been speaking about Stacey Abrams, I used to be simply acknowledging that there's a distinction that she did not name on individuals to assault the State Capitol when she was questioning the result of the 2018 gubernatorial race. RAFFENSPERGER: The president is the highest, you understand, official that now we have in our nation and that clearly that positional energy is simply a lot larger than a candidate operating for governor. However be that as it might, when individuals lose races, I feel the right factor to do is admit that you just lose. And if you wish to run once more, by all means achieve this. MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. Georgia has a painful previous with racial discrimination. And till 2013, states like Georgia needed to search some federal preclearance when it got here to altering their election legal guidelines. I will not get into the main points of all of it, however this is among the provisions that the White Home says is so vital within the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Do you see any benefit in the concept that there must be extra federal oversight in states which have a historical past of racial discrimination? RAFFENSPERGER: Georgia has moved to date forward, we're not the place we have been in 1965. And also you take a look at now we have extra early voting than all these– MARGARET BRENNAN: However this was in place till 2013? RAFFENSPERGER: I do know, and I feel that now we have proven that Georgia has honest and trustworthy elections. Now we have document registrations. Now we have document turnout. Anybody that desires to vote in Georgia has super alternatives to vote early, vote with no excuse absentee voting with picture I.D., after which additionally present up on Election Day. And I am going to examine our document in opposition to the opposite states. In reality, we have been simply acknowledged by Heritage because the primary state for election integrity. RAFFENSPERGER: Nicely by heritage. And I feel the general public will hear a distinct model when they- the President goes to your state. And that is why we need to discuss to you in the present day. Mr. Secretary, thanks on your time.
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