21.3121.01000
Sixty-seventh
Legislative Assembly HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3047
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Louser, Becker, Jones, Kasper, B. Koppelman, K. Koppelman, Pollert
Senators Meyer, Vedaa
(Approved by the Delayed Bills Committee)
1 A concurrent resolution urging Congress not to adopt H.R. 1 of the 117th Congress.
2 WHEREAS, H.R. 1, a sweeping federal bill that would usurp the power of states to conduct
3 elections as they see fit, against the intentions of our nation's founders, is currently under
4 consideration by Congress; and
5 WHEREAS, Section 4 of Article I of the United States Constitution grants the legislative
6 branch of each state the authority to prescribe the "Times, Places and Manner of holding
7 Elections for Senators and Representatives," an authority Congress should supersede only in
8 "extraordinary circumstances" according to Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Number 59; and
9 WHEREAS, voting laws have evolved across the 50 states over time, providing more and
10 more access, security, and accuracy. However, most importantly, each of those same 50 states
11 has created its own unique election systems. From who administers the elections, to how votes
12 are cast, to how a vote is protected--each unique system was born of federalism; and
13 WHEREAS, the imperfection of voting laws across the country is not proof that H.R. 1 is
14 necessary or appropriate, but rather evidence that United States citizens are continuing to strive
15 toward a more perfect union; and
16 WHEREAS, forcing completely new standards, procedures, and expectations into state
17 election systems, which are not built for those requirements, as is the case under H.R. 1, would
18 bring chaos to those election systems, and that chaos would bring with it a lack of trust by the
19 people in the results of those elections; and
20 WHEREAS, in North Dakota, we have developed a system that has ensured voters have
21 confidence in the outcome of our elections. Voter fraud and voter suppression are exceedingly
22 rare, and our efforts to strengthen the security of our elections have become a model for others;
23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
24 NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
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 Sixty-seventh
Legislative Assembly
1 That the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly affirms our belief in the federal structure of the
2 United States government and declares current voting laws a credit to the design of federal
3 government to allow for democratic experimentation throughout the several states; and
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly urges Congress
5 not to adopt H.R. 1; and
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution
7 to each member of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation.
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