GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Congress’ normally mundane certification of the Electoral College vote will take on a different atmosphere this year.
Some Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate that say they will object to certain states’ votes, including Michigan’s, from being counted as certified. That would prolong the process but not change the fact that Democrat Joe Biden defeated incumbent Republican President Donald Trump.
Michigan Republican lawmakers are split on the issue. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, told News 8 Monday that will not be among those to object.
“There are a number of folks who have said they will be objecting to Michigan and a number of other states putting forward their electors. So, I won’t be one of them for Michigan. Frankly we know that there’s going to be a vote on it. I’m open to listen to what other people have as evidence but I can tell you that the hundreds of hours that myself personally and my staff have put in investigating some of these allegations and those kind of things have not shown to me that there is a system-wide, systematic vote fraud that has been claimed,” he said.
Huizenga is joined by fellow congressional Republican Rep. Fred Upton of St. Joseph, who released a statement today that said “voters – not judges or politicians – must decide elections” and that “these objections would establish a new precedent allowing the Congress to supersede the will of the people.”
Two other Michigan Republicans, Rep. Jack Bergman from the Upper Peninsula and Tim Walberg from Southeast Michigan, have a different take and say they will object.
“The very foundation of our Democracy lies in the tenets of a free, fair, and secure election,” they said, in part, in a joint statement. “Americans deserve to know only legal votes are counted and reports regarding irregularities, fraud, and failure to follow election laws are thoroughly investigated.”
When it is all said and done, the votes to halt certification just aren’t there. In the House Democrats alone have the numbers to certify and any objection has to be agreed to by both chambers. There will, however, be a debate and that could go on for hours depending on the parliamentary parameters.
