D043 (Abolish or Modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887)

House of Bishops Message #337

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jul 10, 2022 it considered resolution D043 (Abolish or Modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887). The house acted to:

Concur


Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added texts.>  

That this 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church condemn the insurrection of January 6, 2021, the deadly assault on the United States Capitol which attempted to overturn the result of the 2020 Presidential Election, taking advantage of ambiguities in the Electoral Count Act of 1887; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention call for Congress to update or reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to guard against crises during future Presidential Elections, rectifying several deficiencies in the Electoral Count Act’s 130-year-old text, including how it handles: (1) election timing, (2) state determinations, (3) the Vice President’s role, (4) objections, and (5) the dispute resolution process ; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention support the adoption by all states of the National Popular Vote Compact as one acceptable way to achieve the goal of the direct popular vote for election of the president until the abolition of the Electoral College is accomplished; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention direct, consistent with established policies and procedures, that the Executive Council refer this Resolution to the Office of Government Relations, so that it may take all actions necessary to accomplish the intentions and purposes of this Resolution.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes to be made.>

Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,

That this 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church condemn the insurrection of January 6, 2021, the deadly assault on the United States Capitol which attempted to overturn the result of the 2020 Presidential Election, taking advantage of ambiguities in the Electoral Count Act of 1887; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention call for Congress to update or reform repeal the Electoral Count Act of 1887, or to update the Electoral Count Act to guard against crises during future Presidential Elections, rectifying several deficiencies in the Electoral Count Act’s 130-year-old text, including how it handles: (1) election timing, (2) state determinations, (3) the Vice President’s role, (4) objections, and (5) the dispute resolution process ; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention support the adoption by all states of the National Popular Vote Compact as one acceptable way to achieve the goal of the direct popular vote for election of the president until the abolition of the Electoral College is accomplished; and be it further

Resolved, that this 80th General Convention direct, consistent with established policies and procedures, that the Executive Council refer this Resolution to the Office of Government Relations, so that it may take all actions necessary to accomplish the intentions and purposes of this Resolution.