The following is a statement released by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) explaining why he opposes a move to challenge electoral votes at this week’s joint session of Congress.
“I share the concerns of many Arkansans about irregularities in the presidential election, especially in states that rushed through election-law changes to relax standards for voting-by-mail. I also share their disappointment with the election results. I therefore support a commission to study the last election and propose reforms to protect the integrity of our elections. And after Republicans win in Georgia, the Senate should also hold more hearings on these matters. All Americans deserve to have confidence in the elections that undergird our free government.
Nevertheless, the Founders entrusted our elections chiefly to the states—not Congress. They entrusted the election of our president to the people, acting through the Electoral College—not Congress. And they entrusted the adjudication of election disputes to the courts—not Congress. Under the Constitution and federal law, Congress’s power is limited to counting electoral votes submitted by the states.
If Congress purported to overturn the results of the Electoral College, it would not only exceed that power, but also establish unwise precedents. First, Congress would take away the power to choose the president from the people, which would essentially end presidential elections and place that power in the hands of whichever party controls Congress. Second, Congress would imperil the Electoral College, which gives small states like Arkansas a voice in presidential elections. Democrats could achieve their longstanding goal of eliminating the Electoral College in effect by refusing to count electoral votes in the future for a Republican president-elect. Third, Congress would take another big step toward federalizing election law, another longstanding Democratic priority that Republicans have consistently opposed.
Thus, I will not oppose the counting of certified electoral votes on January 6. I’m grateful for what the president accomplished over the past four years, which is why I campaigned vigorously for his reelection. But objecting to certified electoral votes won’t give him a second term—it will only embolden those Democrats who want to erode further our system of constitutional government.”
Senator Cotton, thank you for taking the time to explain this issue. I appreciate it very much. It saddens me to see voter fraud complaints go unaddressed in the states, but I believe you are correct about the repercussions of involving congress further. Sharyl, thank you for bringing this to us. I am grateful for your hard work to clarify issues for common folk like me, without trying to manipulate how we feel or think about it. You are the only journalist I trust right now.
The critical issue is election integrity. The last thing the nation needs is one politician or another making a commitment to the issue that is intended to serve his or her plans for 2024. If it is Cotton vs. Hawley vs. Cruz, nothing of lasting significance will come of the question of election integrity.
What has not emerged among those concerned about reported voting irregularities including departures from state statutory requirements to voting fraud is a commitment to determine what happened in 2020. Republican Senators, should they maintain their majority, need to get behind a plan to establish a Select Committee, with subpoena power, properly funded, to determine what departures from legal requirements, if any, occurred in the 2020 presidential election.
Republican Senators need to form a united front on this issue. The Democrats want mail-in voting, no voter id requirements. The question the Republicans need to ask and answer is whether these changes as were played out in 2020 will result in an electoral system where voting integrity becomes a political opportunity rather than national problem that potentially threatens the electoral system.
As though a fraudulent election isn’t a threat to “democracy.” His argument is logically underwhelming, to put it mildly.
Representative Cotton; Your Interpretation, Mr, Cotton sounds fair until you add the word of charges “Fraud” into this election. When it now appears that one state counted more than 200,000 votes more than there were registered voters. How can that be rated as Acceptable? I live in CA and lost my husband in 2018. HE VOTED this year! He was sent, to our address an absentee ballot. One he requested several years ago due to frailties, but evidently he was sent two. After the election I got curious. I took the ballot to the clerk’s office and discovered he was on the rolls and voted. Why was that? There is voter fraud in ALL of our states.
Unfortunately, I do believe when our founders wrote the constitution, they had every good intention, through checks and balances, to protect its longevity for all time and tried to protect it and our country into eternity. Unfortunately they only had the power to truly see into that future so far and the wording in our times doesn’t cover language changes and advanced technology but intent is still there.
However, if you have brought out a true interpretation, then it is up to you to find a way to halt the fraud, stop the inauguration before Jan 20 and stop THE FRAUD NOW, not just before the next election. NOW is a key word, EXCUSES ACCEPTED!
If there is a process to investigate voter fraud and objecting to the January 6th electoral votes is that procedure, then you Senator Cotton need to get on board.