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Official Statement on Moore v. Harper and Our Commitment to the Power of the Individual Voter
Yesterday, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court protected the system of checks and balances that is foundational to our democracy. This ruling acknowledges the critical role state judiciaries play in upholding voters’ constitutional rights. It reinforces that the legislature cannot grant itself exclusive control over federal elections, especially at the expense of voters. As the members and leaders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we are relieved that the court rejected the state legislature’s claim to unchecked influence over federal elections. In Moore v. Harper, the Court relied on 200 years of precedent, determining that state legislatures do not have sole authority over federal elections. Instead, they are subject…
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Official Statement on the Peaceful Execution of the 2022 Midterm Elections
As principled voters and engaged citizens, members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) are actively praying and diligently working to ensure a peaceful election this midterm season. We continue to assert that every eligible voter has a right to participate in our democracy, and we encourage our members to be informed, to be principled, and “to exercise this precious and hard-won right with a measure of responsibility and compassion.” We are women of faith who know that “[t]he freedom to vote is a clear political manifestation of the individual worth of souls.” Recognizing this worth, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, we are compelled to protect their votes. MWEG’s…
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The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022
Ready to participate in our Electoral Count Act call to action? Check it out here! The Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA) is a confusing law with outdated language that was designed to govern how electoral votes are counted following a presidential election. Last year, we wrote about the historical context of this law and why it is so important to see it updated as soon as possible. Fortunately, after a lot of hard work by many advocacy groups and organizations, a bipartisan group of senators collaborated to propose S.4573 – Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022. This bill was introduced by Republican Senator Susan Collins…
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Call to Action: Ask Your Senators to Support a Legislative Update of the Electoral Count Act of 1887
The Electoral Count Act (ECA) of 1887 sets out the process of casting and counting electoral votes after a presidential election. It is intended to encourage states to resolve controversial electoral outcomes prior to sending results to Congress in order to avoid the conflicts of interest and pursuit of partisan power that would likely occur if Congress were charged with resolving every election dispute. Unfortunately, the text of the ECA is confusing and antiquated, which means the counting of electoral votes remains vulnerable to abuse by partisan actors. The ECA should be updated to provide clarity and security to this process. This should be a bipartisan priority, as such a…
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A Primer on the Utah Fair Districting Litigation
In the speech that resurrected his political career, Abraham Lincoln argued that Americans must “[a]llow ALL the governed an equal voice in the government, and that, and that only is self-government.” Similarly, the Utah State Constitution Article 1, Section 2 establishes that “[a]ll political power is inherent in the people; and all free governments are founded on their authority for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform their government as the public welfare may require.” The vote is the critical mechanism that enables self-government and preserves citizen capacity to direct, alter, or reform their government. Drawing congressional maps: fair districting vs. gerrymandering Voting…
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Voter Registration Flow Chart
This year will be marked by the midterm elections. While these are often overlooked or dismissed as unimportant, they are likely more consequential in our daily lives than other elections. Midterms focus more on our representation at state and local levels. We believe electoral systems should be structured to maximize the greatest participation, but no matter how robust the process is, it is meaningless without participation. The first step to participating in the electoral process is to be registered to vote. Depending on where you live, this may be a simple process that can be completed online, or it may require gathering identifying information and submitting your registration in person…
