Former governors press for election certification by federal deadline
Former governors pressed for election certification by the federal December deadline, saying the process "is not open to debate" in a Tuesday letter addressed to current governors.
“The voters in each state choose electors. It is the responsibility of all state Governors to confirm which candidate’s electors have been chosen by the voters to serve in the Electoral College,” the ex-governors wrote in their letter, first obtained by Politico. That is done, they said, through "Certificates of Ascertainment of Appointment of Electors," which detail the winning candidate's vote tally and the slate of electors.
“We write as bipartisan former Governors with an eye to December 11th. This is the deadline for issuing and sending Certificates of Ascertainment to the National Archives. This is six days before the Electoral College will meet in state capitals across our nation.”
The letter is signed by former Govs. George Allen (R-Va.), Roy Barnes (D-Ga.), Jeb Bush (R-Fla.), Chet Culver (D-Iowa), Jim Douglas (R-Vt.), Parris Glendening (D-Md.), John Kasich (R-Ohio), Ronnie Musgrove (D-Miss.), Roy Romer (D-Colo.), Ted Strickland (D-Ohio), Bruce Babbitt (D-Ariz.), Jim Blanchard (D-Mich.), Tom Corbett (R-Pa.), Gray Davis (D-Calif.), Dave Freudenthal (D-Wyo.), Jim Hodges (D-S.C.), Scott McCallum (R-Wis.), Bill Ritter (D-Colo.) and Mark Schweiker (R-Pa.).
“While there is much to debate on the campaign trail, we expect all candidates and the American people will agree that this time-honored process during our post-election period is not open for debate,” the letter continues. “It is simply a ministerial and administrative duty.”
Ari Mittleman, the executive director of Keep Our Republic, which describes itself on its website as “a non-partisan civic education organization with a unique focus on the unconventional threats facing our election system, and on ways to help strengthen trust in our electoral system,” told The Hill that it “spearheaded” the letter.
When it comes to the presidential election, voters in states are actually voting for presidential electors picked by the parties of their preferred presidential candidate. Those electors come together “on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December,” voting in favor of their own presidential picks, according to a National Archives webpage.
Prior to the voting day of the electors, “seven (7) original Certificates of Ascertainment listing the persons appointed as electors,” are produced by governors, according to the National Archives page.
“The Executive is required to issue a Certificate no later than 6 days before the electors meet,” the page continues.
Several states investigated fake elector schemes in the 2020 election.
The alternate electors scheme, spearheaded by Trump lawyer John Eastman and bolstered by other lawyers, relied on former Vice President Mike Pence to certify slates of Trump-supporting “fake” electors in battleground states instead of the true electoral votes cast for Biden.
Fake electors allegedly convened in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin, claiming without basis that they were “duly elected” electors from their states.
Former President Trump faces charges in such a case in Georgia.
Date: |
-
ABC News - Tech
California governor signs laws to crack down on election deepfakes created by AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed three landmark bills Tuesday to crack down on political deepfakes ahead of the 2024 electionYesterday - California -
The Hill - Politics
Klobuchar, Warner press tech leaders to take action against election-related disinformation
Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Mark Warner (Va.) sent a letter to major tech leaders on Tuesday, urging them to take "decisive action" against disinformation related to the 2024 general ...Yesterday -
NBC News - Top stories
Judge denies Mark Meadows' effort to move 2020 election case in Arizona to federal court
A federal judge said that Trump’s former White House chief of staff missed a deadline to file the request to move his state-level case.2 days ago -
The Hill - Politics
Trump seeks deadline extension in documents case
Former President Trump’s legal team has requested a deadline extension in his documents case, a move that will likely further delay a review of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon's decision to ...19 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Top stories
White House holds press briefing
Watch live coverage as White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing.19 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Watch live: White House holds press briefing
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will speak with reporters Wednesday, as the Biden administration manages a string of critical security developments at home and abroad. Secretary of ...15 hours ago -
Politico - Politics
Democrats press oil executives on Trump's $1B ask
September 10 - Donald Trump -
ABC News - World
Puerto Rico officials reject request to extend voter registration deadline
Officials in Puerto Rico rejected a petition to extend a voter registration deadline following an outcry over long lines formed by those seeking to participate in this year’s general electionYesterday -
CBS News - Top stories
House to vote on GOP plan to fund government as shutdown deadline looms
The House is voting Wednesday on a government funding measure with less than two weeks before a possible government shutdown.19 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
US has worst healthcare system among wealthy nations, survey says
The United States healthcare system was deemed the worst overall in a new analysis of 10 similar nations by a leading health research nonprofit. "Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing ...4 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Marist polls: Harris leads Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin; they're tied in Pennsylvania
Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former President Donald Trump by 5 points in Michigan, is leading slightly in Wisconsin, and is tied in Pennsylvania, according to new Marist battleground ...4 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
These 3 Dems, 14 Republicans crossed aisle on funding bill vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) government funding bill was sunk through the combined efforts of Democrats and Republicans in the lower chamber on Wednesday. Fourteen members of Johnson’s own ...5 hours ago - Republican Party -
The Hill - Politics
Trump vows to travel to Springfield following false pet-eating claims
Former President Trump pledged to travel to Springfield, Ohio, after false claims that he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), have made about Haitian immigrants eating pets in the city. ...6 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Republican Arizona county chair endorses Democrat to replace him
The Republican chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona has endorsed a Democrat to replace him. "I am endorsing Joel [Navarro] because he is a man of integrity, because he is a ...7 hours ago