Seven Secretaries of State have released a statement criticizing First Lady Michelle Obama for her false claim that Republicans engaged in voter suppression in the November election:

“Unfortunately the First Lady’s comments continue the baseless attacks that have been made upon those leaders who are simply taking reasonable steps to protect the security and integrity of elections. This past election speaks for itself.

In Arizona, a state that has a photo ID requirement, Hispanic voter turnout was the highest in the state’s history. In Georgia, African American turnout has remained high in each election after the state adopted its photo ID requirement in 2006. In Kansas, another state with a photo ID requirement, a minuscule .07 percent of voters neglected to bring their IDs to the polls and all were given provisional ballots and opportunity to provide photo identification later.

These examples reflect what is happening in every state that is taking steps to protect the integrity of elections. No voter is impeded from voting. And more voters become engaged in their elections because they have greater confidence their votes will be counted accurately and not cancelled out by illegal votes.

That is why Americans overwhelmingly favor photo ID and other election security measures.”

Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State

Ken Bennett, Arizona

Brian Kemp, Georgia

Scott Gessler, Colorado

Jason Gant, South Dakota

Mark Martin, Arkansas

Tom Schedler, Louisiana