The United States is facing a tumultuous election season, with concerns about election integrity and the potential for violence in the wake of the 2021 Capitol attack. In an interview with Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation”, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, was grilled on his plans to ensure a peaceful and fair election.

Assurances of Peaceful Transition

While expressing confidence in President Trump’s re-election, Speaker Johnson did assure viewers that the transfer of power will be peaceful. He pointed to efforts made at the federal, state and local level to prevent a repeat of the chaos that followed the 2020 election. He acknowledged the Constitutional requirement of certifying the election results on January 6th and emphasized his commitment to uphold the law.

The Role of the Electoral Count Reform Act

The Electoral Count Reform Act, passed in 2022, aims to clarify the process of counting electoral votes and minimize the potential for disruption. Speaker Johnson asserted his commitment to upholding the Act and ensuring its proper implementation.

The Threat of Objections and Concerns

Despite reassurances, Speaker Johnson conceded that some members on both sides of the aisle might object to slates of electors. He likened this to past actions, where Democrats have routinely objected to slates after every Republican presidential victory in recent history. While dismissing objections as commonplace, he admitted that the situation will require close observation to prevent any escalation into violence.

Doubts and Concerns over Election Integrity

Despite the reassurances, Speaker Johnson expressed anxieties about potential threats to election integrity. He raised concerns about noncitizen voting and questioned the process of voter registration in several states, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of impeding efforts to clean up voter rolls.

The Impact of Immigration and Border Security

The issue of immigration and open borders played a significant role in Speaker Johnson’s concerns. He argued that the large influx of undocumented immigrants, estimated to be 16 million since the Biden administration opened the border, raises serious concerns about potential voter fraud.

Focus on States and State-Level Measures

Although he acknowledges the states’ primary role in managing elections, Speaker Johnson also highlighted his efforts to champion voter integrity measures at the federal level. He criticized Democrats for obstructing the SAVE Act, a bill aimed at requiring proof of citizenship before voter registration. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that the ultimate responsibility lies with the states and called for stricter measures, particularly from Democratic-led states.

The Urgent Need for Hurricane Relief

Beyond the looming election, Hurricane Helene brought devastation to Florida, the Carolinas and surrounding states. Speaker Johnson revealed his involvement in assessing the damage and underscored the urgency of addressing the needs of the affected populations.

The Question of Timing for Hurricane Relief

Although acknowledging the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Speaker Johnson insisted that Congress doesn’t have enough information yet to pass a major aid package. He stated that a $100 billion aid package, initially proposed by him, might be necessary, but insisted on waiting for the full assessment of needs from the states before releasing funding.

FEMA Response and Concerns Over Delayed Assistance

The Speaker also expressed concerns about FEMA’s sluggish response and its efficiency in distributing aid. He claimed that FEMA was slow to respond to the immediate needs of storm victims. Despite Congress allocating $20 billion for relief efforts just before Hurricane Helene made landfall, he highlighted the inadequate distribution, arguing that the victims on the ground were struggling to receive the aid they needed.

The Call to Action: Prioritizing Urgent Needs

Speaker Johnson stressed the need to prioritize the immediate needs of storm victims and pledged that Congress would act quickly and bipartisanly to address the situation as soon as the states provided a comprehensive assessment of their needs. He emphasized that his estimate of a $100 billion aid package was a “guesstimate”, and the actual sum would be based on the information received from the states.

Take Away Points

• Speaker Johnson reassured the public about the peaceful transfer of power in the upcoming election, attributing this confidence to measures implemented since the 2021 Capitol riot.

• While highlighting efforts to uphold the law and the Electoral Count Reform Act, he expressed anxieties about potential objections from both Democrats and Republicans, which, while commonplace, need close monitoring.

• Speaker Johnson’s concerns over election integrity focused on potential voter fraud, specifically highlighting the issue of noncitizen voting. He attributed this to lax immigration policies and challenged the Biden administration for undermining efforts to ensure voter rolls are clean.

• He underscored the need for swift and effective action to address the urgent needs of victims of Hurricane Helene and reiterated Congress’ commitment to delivering bipartisan assistance based on the comprehensive needs assessments from the affected states.