The push by Republican members of Congress to object to the certification of the Electoral College vote count is being described as an anti-democratic effort that risks causing damage to the country — even though it has little chance of succeeding.
However, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) claims the decision to object to the certification is an opportunity to defend the Constitution.
Jordan, who is planning on objecting to the certification of the Electoral College vote, took to the House floor on Tuesday to argue that local election officials violated the Constitution by taking steps to make it easier and safer for residents to vote amid the pandemic.
He specifically cited examples from Pennsylvania, where the state’s Supreme Court extended the date for mail-in ballots to be received.
Pennsylvania’s secretary of state released guidance ahead of the election that declared ballots should not be discarded due to signature matching issues. The Pennslyvania Supreme Court also ruled that ballots can not be discarded due to signature issues.
Additionally, he noted that county election officials tried to notify voters if there were issues with their ballots so that they could cast provisional ballots.
“All of those entities took actions that directly violated the law. A law that the state legislature enacted and thereby violated the Constitution,” Jordan charged. “But, Democrats don’t care. They don’t want to look into it. They’d rather just belittle 60 million of our fellow citizens.”
He continued:
“Guess what, tomorrow, those people will get a chance to hear the truth. Tomorrow those 60 million people, those 80 million people who have their doubts, they will not be treated with disrespect. They will be treated with the respect they deserve. Tomorrow there will be a debate in the peoples’ House. Tomorrow the Constitution will be defended, and the American people will see the truth.”
Finally, he said, “Tomorrow they’ll see what the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, ‘The ultimate date of significance is January 6.’ And tomorrow the citizens of this great country will see why.”
Watch the video below:
Rep. @Jim_Jordan: "Tomorrow the Constitution will be defended and the American people will see the truth…. Tomorrow they'll see what the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said — 'The ultimate date of significance is January 6.'" pic.twitter.com/lfIa8mKk1P
— The Hill (@thehill) January 5, 2021
Congress will meet on January 6 to certify the Electoral College vote count, cementing President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
However, in a last-ditch effort, Republican lawmakers are planning to object to the certification as they cite allegations of widespread voter fraud in the election.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) argued that his constituents have concerns about the integrity of the election.
He noted that while Constitution dictates that Congress certify the electoral vote count, there is a legal process for lawmakers to raise concerns about an election, which would be the forum for lawmakers to raise such concerns.
“This is my only opportunity, during his process, to raise an objection and to be heard… I do have a responsibility in this joint session of Congress to either say ‘I’ve got no problem with it’ or ‘I do have a problem with it,'” Hawley said.
