National Council on Election Integrity commends Vice President Pence for upholding oath of office, calls on Congress to pass Electoral Count Act update

In response to today’s hearing by the January 6th Select Committee, Issue One’s bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity released the following statement:

“Elections are decided by the voters. Not rogue partisan actors, not vice presidents, not state legislatures. Today’s hearing revealed the vulnerabilities of the Electoral Count Act (ECA). It is critical that Congress pass a full and complete update to this arcane law to insulate our country from a constitutional crisis following future presidential elections. This change must happen this year and be a bipartisan undertaking focused on defending the Constitution.

“Today’s hearing further confirmed that Vice President Mike Pence upheld his oath of office and performed his constitutional duty in lawfully counting the electoral votes on January 6, 2021. While President Trump’s legal advisor John Eastman incorrectly interpreted the ECA and pressured the vice president to exceed his constitutional authority, we echo the findings of the Select Committee that the vice president did the right thing and acted honorably. He refused to unilaterally reject the will of the people following the outcome of a free and fair election.

“We are encouraged by the momentum in the Senate and House to update the ECA. Action needs to be taken now to prevent future abuses of power. Our elected leaders have a responsibility to get this done this year – well ahead of the next presidential election – to prohibit members of Congress, the vice president, or state legislatures from overruling the will of the voters.”