comcast. >> do you think this is just a community center? no. it's way more than that. >> comcast is enabling so students from low income dpams get the tools they need to be ready for anything. >> comcast supports c-span as a public service, i know what these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> yesterday in philadelphia at the national constitution center that president biden spoke about voting rights, legislation in the united states, and the impact they're having on democracy. >> so hear me clearly. there is an unfolding assault taking place in america today, an attempt to suppress and subvert the right to vote in fair and free elections. assault on democracy. an assault on liberty.

an sault on who we are. who we are as americans. make no mistake, bullies and merchants of fear, peddlers of lies are threatening the very foundation of our country. it gives me no pleasure to say this. i never thought my entire career i would ever have to say it. but i swore an oath to you, to god, to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. that's an oath that forms a sacred threat to protect against all threats both foreign and domestic. the assault on free and fair elections is just such a threat, literally. i've said it before. we're facing the most significant test of our

democracy since the civil war. that's not hyperbole. since the civil war. the confederates never breached the capitol as happened on january 6th. i'm not saying this to alarm you. i'm saying this because you should be alarmed. i'm also saying this, there's good news. it doesn't have to be this way. it doesn't have to be for real. we have the means. we just need the will. the will to save and strengthen our democracy. we did in 2020. the battle for the soul of america in that battle, the people battled. democracy prevailed. our constitution held. we have to do it again. >> that was president biden yesterday in philadelphia at the national constitution center, talking about this issue of

voting rights. and voting in the united states is our topic in this half-hour of the "washington journal." asking you this question, which is more important? expanding access or protecting voter integrity? which would you choose? if you say and pandemicing access, you can call. if you say protecting voting integrity. you just heard from president biden yesterday in philadelphia. this is the lead editorial in today's "wall street journal" responding to president biden's statements. joe biden, jim crow and texas voting. this is what the editorial board of the "wall street journal" writes. now the civil war, part of his aim after republicans made gains in 2020 among nonwhite voters might be to reinforce the message that the gop is racist. but mr. biden is distorting the truth that justified congressional passage of hr 1. what they call a

constitutionally dubious takeover in all 50 states. he's trying to appease frustrated progressives who are starting to blame him. before democrats hail quorum breaking as heroism, they might recall they're trying to pass the most radical agenda in decades. our question, voting in the u.s., which is more important? expanding access or protecting voting integrity? al in houston, texas, says protecting voting integrity. good morning. >> caller: yes. it all comes down to voter i.d., period. we have to make sure that who is voting has the right to vote and is legal to vote. that's my biggest problem. there's too much fraud in trying to do without i.d. we have to have i.d. thank you. >> before you go, you're down there in texas. your take on what's going on in texas and i guess washington as

well, after texas democratic legislators left the state to keep the state house from having a quorum. >> caller: i said it before, the representatives left before. i think it is a mistake. they need to stay in there and do their jobs. texas is not doing anything different than any other state. they just want to make sure that it comes down to i.d. restricting people to do this and that. it's not there. i don't see it. they're just following the rhetoric that we're trying to suppress the vote and show me where they're suppressing the vote. i mean, they cherry pick what they want and that's it. >> texas exodus stalls the gop voting rights bill. but asks the question for how long?

deborah in alabama says, expanding voting access is the more important of the choices we've given. why is that? >> caller: well, i believe our elections were fair. i was a poll watcher. i was the only democratic poll watcher. everybody that was running the elections were republicans. we had two questions the whole day. and in all the different places that we had poll watchers, there were no republican poll watchers there. the elections were fair. i live in alabama. it is a republican state. i would have loved for biden to win it but he didn't and i understand that. we need our votes expanded where more people can vote. where the elderly can get out. they can have early voting for people who can't stand in a line

for six to eight hours. it's just, the people that are complaining about the election, i mean, how many times do we have to go into court to prove that the election was fair and honest? and i just, i hear the republicans, but why aren't they at the polls watching? >> that's deborah in alabama. this is cheryl from provo, utah. protecting voting integrity is the more important. go ahead. >> caller: when i was helping with the election, counting votes inside provo, what i found is that there were questions about whether we should, you know, that it was done fairly. i think it is not an assault on our election to question if the votes are being done properly. it is called a check-up.

we're doing a check-up. we're making sure that the next election will have things in place to make our elections valid. we'll have all the people working to, toward that. >> in your case -- >> dishonesty -- >> in your case, how were those questions resolved? >> caller: well, because i worked counting the ballots, i was not supposed to be political in any way. and yet, even though we have that rule, i knew exactly who voted republican, who voted democrat because, just because they required that didn't mean they could shut down our discussion about it. and so i think, and i never did see poll watchers. there should have been poll watchers.

so we have these things in place to make sure that our election is fair and honest. but we need to also make sure that they're being active. >> cheryl in utah. this is michael in wisconsin. good morning. >> caller: good morning. voter suppression, an existential risk to the united states, surely martial law is warranted. >> and michael, do you believe that yourself? >> caller: indeed i do. because we are putting the constitution itself at risk. and yesterday, president biden made it very clear that he swore to protect and defend the constitution of the united states. voter suppression and voter numberification are clearly challenges to the constitution. and he has the power to use

martial law to enforce that. and all of this can be brought to a very quick end. and we get back to discussing issues instead of counting votes in the united states simply by saying, all he has to do is say, martial law will be enacted if this continues. >> michael in wisconsin. from wallingford, connecticut. you say voting integrity is the most important. >> caller: i think everyone should be able to vote but they should send valid identification to show who they are and they are a citizen of the usa. it's important, i know, because i've traveled throughout the world. countries like turkey and israel and jordan and china and india,

where people do not have that right to vote. and it is one of the most precious things we have in usa and it should be used but it should be protected by showing that you are a citizen of the united states with a valid i.d. >> charles in ohio. on the line for those who say expanding voter access is more important. go ahead. >> caller: yes. no taxation without representation. everybody living in the united states is paying taxes on everything that they buy. so if you're living in the united states, you ought to be able to vote. that's it. thank you. >> back to texas. michelle in houston. good morning, you're next. >> caller: yes, good morning. thank you for taking my call. i am calling in on the expanding voter access.

i think i'm kind of on the question. i've been learning if we expand, we won't have integrity and i don't think that's true. like the previous caller. i think everybody should have the opportunity to vote. and there are many ways that we should be able to offer that. people have busy schedules. we should have flexibility in elections and expand voting. thank you for taking my call. >> to tallahassee, florida. phillip, good morning. >> caller: good morning. >> go ahead, phillip. >> caller: yes. i am definitely in favor of making sure people who are american citizens. this is a right. we have it in the constitution. we have people in florida who have gnomes georgia who are laughing that they voted in both

states. i would like to see every vote include our social security number. so we can only vote once and only citizens have voted. too many people are sneaking through cracks. i am really upset about this. >> on twitter saying, why it is an either/or question. the question is which is more important is what we're asking you. but to me, it's a false choice. if everyone is given easy access, it destroys the integrity? why would that be? we should have full access for all citizens while protecting the integrity of the system. andrew says expanding access is the more important of the two. >> caller: i agree. i think it was a twitter responder. why can't we put emphasis on both? why can't we have integrity and expansion to all? why can't we create a program

that makes it easier for people to get identification? we have three and a half years here to start preparing for the next election. let's start getting people identification and make it even cheaper to get an i.d. why. does it cost $100 to get identification? that's ridiculous. >> this is sam out of fredericksburg. you're next. >> caller: good morning. thank you for taking my call. my answer to the question is both. [ inaudible ] before the previous caller. you can have access and still have integrity. it shouldn't be which is most important. both are important. make people access if they are

qualified to vote. and make it also in such a way that the results will be trusted. so i believe more can be done. also the gentleman that said people are laughing because they voted in both states. if he truly believes what he says, go and report them. if somebody comes to you and laughs and says i voted in two states, you have to go report them. let the authorities find out if it is true or not. >> sam in fredericksburg. the question we're asking in this segment. "washington journal," which is more important? expanding ballot access? protecting voter integrity? you can keep calling in on our phone lines as we take you to the headline from the austin american statesman on the latest out of texas. and the voting rights in texas. texas house okays the arrest for absent democrats.

senate takes up gop elections bill. madeleine is state politics reporter with the austin american statesman. explain the latest news out of the state legislature in texas. >> right. we had a big event happening yesterday as you were explaining earlier. the texas house democrats broke quorum in the house. when they do that, the house can't do anything. they can't vote on any bills. they can't move forward. one of the few actions that is afforded to the remaining members, in this case, all the republicans and four democrats who stayed behind. one thing they can do is vote to send texas law enforcement officers to compel attendance for absent members in the chamber and that does include the option to arrest members if necessary. the word arrest is exciting and scary. to be clear, this is not a criminal proceeding. they're not being hand cuffed and thrown into jail. the intent is to go grab the

members other aren't here and compel them to come back so business can continue. >> when do we expect that democrats will come back? what have they said about how long they'll be in d.c.? and when they're willing to step back into the state? >> that's the question that everybody is asking right now. an important thing to note is that texas law enforcement does not have jurisdiction in d.c. so that's the whole point of crossing state lines. as long as they stay there, texas law enforcement can't compel them to come back. what we've heard from democrats, they are planning to stay there through the end of the special session if necessary. special legislative sessions in texas last for 30 days. they have to be called by the governor. governor abbott has said he himself continues to plan special session after special session after special session until he can get his priority items passed, even if that means the democrats need to stay in d.c. for months and months to complete their goal. it is hard to say exactly how

this will shake out. it's just been a few days. everybody is waiting to see who blinks first. >> the news yesterday out of the state capital, the house chamber doors were locked and the members needed to ask permission to come and go? explain. >> right. so that's part of the parliamentary procedure. they voted to approve a call to the house which means the doors are locked. as you said, members cannot leave without permission from the speaker. they have to do that in order to then vote on what we talked about earlier, authorizing law enforcement to go get these absent members. it is all parliamentary procedure. when we're talking about this, this is not an issue of state law. democrats aren't violating state law but they are violating the rules of the house chamber that are set every session. it is dramatic when you see the law enforcement folks walking around, locking the doors of the chamber. around 2:30 yesterday, the house speaker gave everybody

permission to go home. take a shower, eat some food with the promise they would come back today at 11:00 a.m. >> who are the four democrats who stayed behind? >> we had four democrats stay. a few were from more conservative districts and that's what they cited as their reason for staying at the capitol. and we had two democrats who had excused an senses, which is the only way you're allowed tonight be present. i spoke with morales who was one of the democratic members who stayed behind. he said he fully supports the democrats and their mission. but to best represent his constituents, he felt he needed to be at the capitol fighting the measure there. >> and it has been a busy few days at the capitol for you. we appreciate your time. what will you be watching for today? >> what we know is the senate in texas, they do have quorum. a few to have gone d.c. to show solidarity but enough democrats have stayed behind in the chamber that they can continue with their business.

so guaranteed, we'll see the senate continue to pass these bills. yesterday they actually approved the elections bill at issue in this whole debate. and we'll see them move forward with committee hearings, passing all their election. the governor has given them 11 items this special session they can tackle. abortion, border security, other issues. they'll continue on move through that agenda. on the house side, they cannot do anything. we'll see members come through to make a point to democrats. they want to say we were here. we were here when you weren't here. look at us. they'll be in the chamber every day but they can't do anything. democrats in d.c. are continuing to take meetings with folks. we'll see them on tv a lot. a big part of this is not just trying on kill this bill in texas. but generating publicity around this issue and trying to get national folks to pay attention to the voting bills moving through congress. >> the website for the austin american statesman, you can find

all the work of madlin. she's a state politics reporter joining us during a very busy week on her beat. and we do appreciate your time this morning. >> thanks for having me. >> you heard madlin describe the scene there yesterday in the senate chamber with the vote to, to issue warrants of arrest for democrats who left. she described it. here's a look at how it went down. >> the chair recognizes for motion. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> i move that the sergeant at arms or officers appointed by him send for all absentees whose absentee is not excused under warrant of arrest if necessary. >> the clerk will ring the bell. all members voting.

the motion is adopted. members, the sergeant at arms and any officers appointed by him are directed to send for all absentees whose attendance is not excused for the purpose of maintaining their attendance under warrant of arrest if necessary. while the house is under a call, any member who wishes to leave the hall must have a written permission of the speaker. >> that was the scene yesterday from the state house down there in texas. about ten minutes left or so in this segment as we ask you this question on this issue of voting in the united states. which is more important to you. expanding ballot access or protecting voting integrity? phone lines if you stay former.

moore says expanding ballot access. out of georgia. moore, go ahead. >> caller: good morning, c-span. i'm a 73-year-old african-american. and this voter i.d., voter restriction, i did two tours in vietnam and i could not vote. i could not vote until 1974. so voting restrictions have been around forever and it is time for it to stop. america, we are citizens. we have the right to vote. america, we don't have to show you all our i.d. do your homework. it is our constitutional right. by having an i.d., that doesn't constitutional right. have a good day. >> out of new york. good morning. >> caller: good morning. obviously, protecting the integrity of the voting is

supremely important. if we expand access but not the integrity, you're defeating the purpose. they're jumping up and down. this is the biggest turnout ever. they turned election day into election week or election month almost. the turnout every year is abysmal for a reason. no matter who gets voted in, they don't spent our money financially prudently. they don't do their jobs and both parties are responsible for the way things are today. so you know, just getting people more chances to vote. it's a privilege to vote. you know when election day years in advance. people would be happy to vote if they had a little faith in the people they were voting for. >> to alexandria, virginia. steve, good morning. >> caller: this is steve. i've been watching and hearing what the people are saying.

everybody has an i.d. to go to the bank, to get a driver's license. you have to present an i.d. in europe right now, only one country doesn't require an i.d. you go to india, and all those millions of people, they vote and they have i.d.'s. i believe you should have an i.d. and if you want an absentee ballot, you apply for with it the last four digits of your social security. i was a mailman for 31 years. mail, it presents an opportunity for fraud. right now, the democrats from texas, this is all theatrics, trying to push through a national, the national election. >> as charlie cook in our last segment pointed out, there are

several states even before 2020 who did all mail-in voting. states that have conservative and republican and have democratic state legislatures. do you think those states need to rethink all mail-in balloting? >> caller: well, it does present an opportunity for fraud as we've seen. and i believe, biden won by, they say, 70 million votes. and that was more than obama governor got, which was a massive turnout. so if he won by that many, why don't they want to review it and make sure so we don't have these problems? i mean, the pandemic ain't going to be here in the next election. people will go and vote. plenty of opportunity in virginia to go vote. in alexandria, we're right outside d.c. every saturday, some evenings you can go up here to the supervisor's office and vote.

but i present my i.d. when i go in. they make sure i'm on the voter register. and it is a secure vote. >> josephine is next out of livingston. good morning. >> caller: good morning. you know, i know everybody is concerned about who actually shows up to vote. but i find it interesting, and my complaint is, when people who are wealthy, and i consider someone wealthy who owns two different residences. like one in florida and another state. i can't trust them. how can they prove to me they're only voting in one place? so my prediction is, what they should do is, when you have to vote, you must go back physically to the state that you are a permanent resident to vote. you can't vote in the state you visit. let me tell you something. i know they do it all the time. you come up with these votes in florida. don't believe it. they cheat like you cannot

believe. >> how do you feel about overseas voting in members of the military who are deployed and having a ballot and sending them in? they're not in the states that their residency is. >> caller: don't believe it. what they do is, they vote twice. they vote twice. you're telling me these seniors don't vote twice? who are you kidding? >> all right. ronald in philadelphia. good morning. you're next. >> caller: well, the main thing, extend the voting for 30 days, 24/7. if you really care about the vote. texas doing like back in the day here. if you deny my i.d., then what happens? they say, oh, go down to the police station to fill out an affidavit. i'll see if you're a criminal. so number one, pass a law. if you deny my i.d. or my signature isn't right. i want you locked up.

>> we'll go to nicky in new jersey. good morning. >> caller: i'll tell you what. you need to ensure an honest vote. if your vote is not honest, then it means nothing. and also, anybody who stops somebody from voting should face every fine and prison time. that's all i have to say. >> our last caller in this segment a. conversation now on social media and free speech with amy -- kickoff, of parler. explain what parler is. >> an up-and-coming social media network. we differentiate ourselves from other social media platforms around two prongs. first of all, we promote free speech. and by that i mea