DAVID DUNN: Defends work on election integrity commission.

Donald Trump‘s so-called election integrity commission is a transparent attempt to advance the Republican Party’s voter suppression agenda. Recently uncovered e-mail shows that one leading backer objected to any Democratic participation at all.

But Bloomberg reports here that the handful of Democrats on the commission are having some impact in calling out Trump and Kris Kobach misinformation about virtually non-existent voter fraud, particularly a folk tale about fraud in New Hampshire.

Advertisement

The article includes a quote after a recent meeting from Arkansas lobbyist David Dunn, a former Democratic state legislator, who owes his spot on the commission to friendship with Secretary of State Mark Martin, who’s also participated in some dubious vote “fraud” activities with potential for mass disenfranchisement.

“This is a pretty partisan commission,” said Ohio State University election law professor Daniel Tokaji. “I guess there are a couple of people at least with Democratic affiliations. They’re certainly not prominent people in this elections sphere, nor, to this point, have they been particularly vocal in raising the other side of this debate.”

But that seems to be changing. After more than five hours, the meeting ended almost as awkwardly as it began, with Kobach giving careful answers to a barrage of questions. It’s unclear what, if anything, was accomplished, other than to remind everyone that there are Democrats on the panel who disagree with some of the basic tenets of its apparent mission. Though they’ve taken heat from progressives for participating, and thereby giving the panel a veneer of bipartisan credibility, the commission’s Democratic members are beginning to see themselves as a check against what they view as baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

“I know we are outnumbered,” said Democrat David Dunn, a commission member and former Arkansas legislator who has been urged by acquaintances to step down but has so far refused. “Why would you resign?” he said. “Why would you turn it over to the exact people that you’re afraid of doing something that would harm your access to the polls?”

Advertisement

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article ACLU’s fight to hold Arkansas accountable on gay rights Next article Jason Baldwin on jailhouse snitches