Faith groups reject Trump’s ‘baseless’ voter fraud commission

(JTA) — A coalition of faith organizations, more than half of them Jewish, issued a statement objecting to a presidential commission investigating what the 24 signatories called “baseless claims” of widespread voter fraud.

In the letter sent Thursday to members of Congress, the coalition urged lawmakers not to fund the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity set up by President Donald Trump to probe what he has called widespread claims of improper voting that have the effect of “canceling out the votes of lawful American citizens.”

The faith coalition rejects those claims, citing evidence that the rate of voter fraud in the United States is statistically insignificant.

“The commission was designed to advance baseless claims made by President Trump and others of widespread voter fraud during recent elections in the United States,” according to the letter, which was organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “Several comprehensive studies have debunked such a myth, finding only a handful of voter fraud cases in recent history.”

The letter warns that the commission could lead to policies that prevent eligible citizens, especially the poor, people of color and the elderly, from voting.

“We represent a diversity of faith traditions, but are united in our belief that our democracy works best when more people participate,” the letter continues. “Our traditions teach us to take responsibility for the well-being of our community by taking part in civic affairs. Moreover, we are taught to work for a society that safeguards the rights of all people – especially the sacred right to vote.”

Signatories included the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs,  the National Council of Jewish Women, and groups from the Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform movements.