Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett fielded criticism of the state’s opposition to expanded absentee voting during testimony Wednesday, July 22, before the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration committee.

Hargett was one of three election officials from three states who testified on general election preparations.

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“I hope you will continue to respect each state’s authority to conduct elections in a manner that has or will work in their respective states,” Hargett said. “It would not be appropriate nor do we need to federalize the administration of our elections.”

U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine, however, questioned Hargett closely on the court order, opposed and on appeal by the state, that allows expanded absentee voting in the August elections for those who have concerns about the pandemic.

“I don’t know why you need an excuse to vote,” King said. “But you’re saying someone can’t say, ‘I don’t want to stand in line for two hours with several hundred other people and protect my health?' -- that that’s not good enough in your state? Is that what you are telling me, Mr. Hargett?”

“Under Tennessee law, fear of contracting the coronavirus is not an excuse,” Hargett replied.

“Well, that’s pitiful,” King responded.

King is an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate.

Watch the entire committee session here.

Under questioning from Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the ranking Democrat on the committee, Hargett also defended state provisions that require voters to mail in absentee ballots instead of the state providing drop boxes for voters, as some states use.

“It’s an anti-coercion methodology,” Hargett said. “Someone who knows you have a ballot could offer to turn it in for you. … We believe it’s a great security measure to have someone returning their own ballot by the United States Postal Service to prevent the ballot harvesting that we’ve seen in other state.”

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee refused to expand absentee balloting by executive order and the Tennessee Legislature voted down two similar bills before the ruling in Davidson County Chancery Court in a lawsuit filed by several different groups including several Memphians.

When the state balked at adding the pandemic as a reason to request an absentee ballot on the state’s official application following the court ruling, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle threatened to hold the state in contempt. The state then complied.

“Tennesseans love to cast a ballot in person,” Hargett told the Senate committee.

“We can mail out ballots in a timely fashion and voters can return them in what they deem is timely to ensure their return by election day,” he said. “However, we have no control over the operations of the United States Postal Service. Each election year without fail counties mail ballots that are never returned or that are received weeks after election day.”

The other election officials expressed concerns about the reliability of mail delivery times as well.

Hargett also cited alleged absentee ballot fraud schemes that he said have led to an “erosion in confidence” in ballots cast by mail.

“It remains true that the most secure and private way to cast a ballot is through in-person voting,” he said.

After the hearing, Tennessee Democratic Party chairwoman Mary Mancini said Hargett showed a “lack of leadership.”

“Tre Hargett had to be sued to do the right thing and allow absentee voting for those concerned about getting sick or infecting their families,” she said in an emailed statement. “He is also one-hundred percent responsible for the ongoing appeal of that decision.”

About 8,000 of 15,000 requested absentee ballots mailed so far

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is among the state’s absentee voters as he prepares to leave the Senate at the end of the year.

“I found this year the absentee voting opportunity pretty simple to follow and the ballots were available early and I mailed my ballot in early,” Alexander said as he questioned Hargett on turnout projections and election preparations.

He also noted that Hargett was instrumental in the state going to online voter registration.