“Attempts to Overturn the Will of the People Must Stop,” Says Bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity in Wake of Electoral College Vote

The bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity — a group of more than 40 former elected officials, former Cabinet secretaries, retired military officials, and civic leaders — issued the following statement today in the wake of the Electoral College’s affirmation of the results of the 2020 presidential election:

“The American people have spoken. The Electoral College has voted. It’s time to conduct the orderly transfer of power that is as much a hallmark of American exceptionalism as is our commitment to liberty. 

“According to the Department of Homeland Security, the 2020 elections were the most secure in our lifetimes. And Trump administration officials from Attorney General Bill Barr to CISA Director Chris Krebs have acknowledged the simple truth that the 2020 elections were safe, secure, free, fair, and transparent. That’s why we feel compelled at this moment to collectively speak out against efforts to undermine the democratic process and overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. 

“Every candidate has the right to pursue legal challenges. But our courts — including the U.S. Supreme Court — have spoken loud and clear in more than 50 cases, often decided by Republican-appointed judges. These cases have overwhelmingly failed for lack of evidence.

“Despite the vote of the Electoral College and the actions of the courts in multiple lawsuits, President Trump and some of his supporters are defying our Constitution in an ongoing attempt to overrule the will of the people. Neither members of Congress nor White House officials should be plotting ways to nullify the results of legitimate elections. Attempts to overturn the will of the people must stop. Whether one likes the outcomes of elections or not, our Constitution and our principles require every American to put country over party when campaigns are over. 

“It should be concerning to all Americans that baseless claims and conspiracies about our election are spreading like wildfire. Moreover, attacks on election officials must stop. Election officials worked across party lines this year to ensure every vote was counted fairly and accurately. These patriotic Americans — our neighbors and friends — shouldn’t have to fear for their safety. They deserve our praise. Continued attacks on our elections — and acts of vandalism and violence, as we saw over the weekend — are dangerous and only harm the long-term health of our republic.”

Additionally, earlier today, four members of the National Council on Election Integrity — former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA), former Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), and former Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) — joined Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman for a virtual press briefing about why it’s time to put country over party, accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, and stop spreading baseless conspiracies about our election that only undermine our democracy.

You can watch a video of this 30-minute press briefing here.

The National Council on Election Integrity — a bipartisan group of more than 40 government, political, and civic leaders who are devoted to defending the legitimacy of our elections — is a project of Issue One. See the full list of members of the National Council on Election Integrity.