TRENTON – Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union/Somerset) issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s Thursday night speech discussing his plans to pass legislation limiting federal voting rights ahead of the midterm elections:

“President Trump has for years spread false claims about the integrity of our election system, despite having absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support his allegations of widespread voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election and in the years after. Last night’s speech was yet another calculated attempt to undermine the American people’s confidence in the fabric of our democracy.

“As we head into this year’s midterm elections, Republicans see that looming over them are the consequences of the president’s unpopular agenda—a needless war in Iran, economic policies that only serve to enrich billionaires and corporations, and the Trump family’s unprecedented level of corruption and self-enrichment using public funds. They know that they can’t win with their record, and President Trump has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he intends to win by any means necessary. Will congressional Republicans go along with this lame duck president’s plan to destroy our democracy?

“From the battles to gerrymander away Democratic House seats across the country, to advocating for the elimination of mail-in voting, to pushing for the SAVE America Act that would strip millions of their voting rights, the president, along with members of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, have done all they can to weaken or limit the rights of those they deem to be a threat to their continued power. We cannot allow them to succeed.

“Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and that is a value that we hold near and dear in New Jersey. We recently passed the ‘John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act’ to strengthen voter protections and ensure equitable access to the democratic process for all citizens. We will not succumb to attempts by the Trump Administration to suppress or intimidate our residents at the polls, and we will make sure every lawful vote is counted.

“In the meantime, our caucus will continue to use the power entrusted to us by New Jersey voters to address the issues that matter to them the most: lowering the cost of living, expanding access to affordable housing, funding our schools, protecting reproductive freedom, and fighting the impact of climate change in our communities. Together we will survive the remainder of the Trump presidency and build a stronger New Jersey for everyone.”