Rep. Veasey Votes to Preserve American Democracy, Strengthen Election Integrity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Veasey yesterday voted for bipartisan legislation to protect free and fair elections, uphold the rule of law and defend the Constitution. Crafted in response to extremist attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election – including the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol – the Presidential Election Reform Act will implement several common-sense measures to safeguard Texans' votes against any future attempt to interfere with the certification of election results.

"I proudly voted to ensure that presidential elections are decided at the ballot box – not by partisan politicians," said Rep. Veasey. "The January 6th attack was a vile assault on Americans' Constitutional right to pick their own leaders. The Presidential Election Reform Act will protect that right against harmful delays, baseless lies and selfish power grabs. By enacting clear rules for counting electoral votes and barring states from changing election results they don't like, this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the destiny of our democracy remains in the hands of the American people."

"House Democrats will never relent in defending our democracy against sinister, extremist attacks. With the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, we advanced landmark measures to protect the sacred right to vote for Texans. While radical Republican-led forces attempt to preserve their own power by silencing Americans, Democrats are proudly fighting to put People Over Politics," continued Rep. Veasey.

Building on the patriotic work of the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate January 6th, the Presidential Election Reform Act will implement several measures to update and strengthen the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to ensure the uninterrupted certification of future presidential elections, as required by the Constitution. This legislation will:

• Reaffirm that the vice president has no authority or discretion to reject official electoral slates or delay the count in any material way
• Detail the Constitutional grounds upon which Members may object to a state's electoral votes
  • Increasing the objection threshold to one-third of each chamber – rather than allowing a single Member of each chamber to raise an objection
  • Requiring a majority vote in each chamber to sustain an objection
• Prevent rogue governors from unlawfully subverting the will of the people
  • Requiring governors to transmit lawful election results to Congress in a timely fashion
  • Authorizing presidential candidates to obtain a federal court order compelling a noncompliant state to deliver its election results
• Prevent radical state legislators from attempting to alter the outcome of an election
  • Requiring states to conduct presidential elections under state law as established prior to Election Day
  • Barring state legislatures from "taking back" their electoral appointment power to overturn the results of an election
  • Allowing presidential candidates to seek a federal court order enforcing state election officials' Constitutional obligation to count ballots and certify election results