Former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg (D) is warning President Donald Trump his efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote is something the nation will remember.
During his appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Buttigieg suggested instead of appealing to voters, the Trump campaign has depended on hindering their ability to vote.
“Unfortunately it seems that Republicans have given up – at least Donald Trump’s campaign has really given up on the idea of persuading voters and is instead turning to the idea of suppressing voters,” he said.
Buttigieg accused Trump of attempting to “disenfranchise” voters in Texas and “maneuvers to try and make it harder to get absentee ballots.”
Watch his remarks below:
Pete Buttigieg slams the Trump campaign: "It is going to be a stain on that campaign forever that they thought part of their strategy to win was to make it harder for American citizens, including patriots serving overseas, to have their voices heard" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/4FGbGnda14
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 1, 2020
He called it “shocking” and explained he does not know “what Donald Trump has against soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who are returning absentee ballots from abroad.”
“It is going to be a stain on that campaign forever that they thought part of their strategy to win was to make it harder for American citizens, including patriots serving overseas, to have their voices heard,” he said.
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied that Republicans are participating in voter suppression.
He expressed concern with mail-in ballots.
“The concern is when you have some states that don’t require a postage mark on there, so we don’t know when they were filled out, they don’t require signature verification, and some states they’ll be counting nine or 10 days after the election. I think in the most industrialized country in the world we can do better than that,” Lewandowski said.
He added, “We know that people can vote, we know how to count quickly, so let’s get it done.”
As of Sunday, more than 91.6 million Americans have already voted.
This number represents about 67% of the more than 136.5 million ballots cast in 2016.
