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Updating the Electoral Count Act of 1887
For a downloadable two-page info sheet on the Electoral Count Act, click here or scroll to the bottom of this post. 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…
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MWEG UT Official Statement on 2021 Redistricting
Yesterday the Utah House and Senate discarded the fair and transparent Independent Redistricting Commission maps and instead passed the redistricting maps created by the Legislative Redistricting Committee. We are concerned that what we have just witnessed, especially with regards to the congressional map, is a clear attempt by legislators to exercise undue influence over voters, doing so in a way that does not engender trust in processes or follow standards of transparency. We recognize that these maps have passed with a veto proof majority, but the governor has not only refused to speak in defense of the people of Utah, he has justified his disengagement by claiming he is doing…
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Official Statement From MWEG on a Faith-Based Defense of the Freedom to Vote
As faith-inspired activists and advocates for ethical governance, we are deeply motivated by our belief that every individual is an infinitely valuable child of God. Our love of democratic governance is a natural outgrowth of this, as is our passionate desire to protect it. The freedom to vote is a clear political manifestation of the individual worth of souls. Ensuring that right for all citizens is an expression of the second great commandment within our political systems — to love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot claim to truly love our neighbors if we also deny their constitutional right to participate equally in the formation of our shared government. We…
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Call to Action: Ask Your Senator to Bring the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to Debate
Without protected voting rights for every eligible American, it is impossible to have a government that is truly representative of and accountable to the people. To this end, H.R.4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (VRAA), was designed to protect the right to vote for Americans who experience voting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or language minority membership. It amends the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 by strengthening its power to protect voting rights and updating its requirements to be specific to the modern context of voting discrimination. The bill was passed in the House strictly along party lines. It now goes before…
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Call to Action: Respond to the House Vote to Hold Stephen Bannon in Contempt of Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday, October 21, to hold Stephen Bannon, a podcast host who served briefly as chief strategist to former President Donald Trump, in contempt of Congress. Bannon refused to comply with subpoenas from the January 6 select committee for documents and testimony in regards to the January 6 attack on our government and the Capitol building. The House voted 229 to 202, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to recommend charges against Bannon. Attorney General Merrick Garland will make the final decision on whether to prosecute and has yet to indicate how the department will respond. To do Contact your members of the House to let…
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Everyone Deserves the Freedom to Vote
Our country is facing a difficult moment, where it is important to reaffirm our commitment to the core principles of democracy, including representation, equality, and freedom. Legislation upholding our voting freedoms is necessary, but S1, the For the People Act, failed to pass earlier this year. This occurred despite the wide bipartisan support among voters for federal protection of voter rights. Republican senators refused to engage with S1, citing concerns that its scope was too broad. In response, Senate Democrats developed the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA), initiated by Senator Manchin. The FTVA legislation contains three main divisions: voter access, election integrity, and civic participation and empowerment (which includes redistricting…
