Fulcher objects to Electoral College certification

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) released a video objecting to the Electoral College certification.

“A number of you have shared valid concerns regarding the results of the Nov. 3, 2020 election, particularly in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan,” Fulcher said.

The objections come from Article I Section 2 Clause I, which prescribes state legislatures the authority to create the election process.

Fulcher goes on to state that state officials or courts bypassed their state legislators on election rules.

“These actions warrant that Congress exercise its constitutional responsibility to question election results for any state in violation of their own election laws,” Fulcher said.

The examples given by Fulcher include voter timeline alterations, mass balloting practices and election ballots said to broad lists with “little regard to voting eligibility.”

The U.S. House and Senate met in a joint session Wednesday to finalize results that Biden received 306 electoral votes, while Trump received 232.

However, protests both outside and, eventually, inside the U.S. Capitol postponed the congressional debate on the issue. As of press time, Congress had not yet voted on the presidential results.

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and the state’s two U.S. senators, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, have not released a statement supporting Fulcher.

In 2017, objections were made against U.S. President Donald Trump after being elected but didn’t receive any senate support.

Traditionally the Electoral College certification is a formality. Still, if there are objections in writing by a house representative and senator, the joint session is suspended, and both chambers consider it separately. Both would need to agree to sustain the objection.

Since the House of Representatives maintains a democratic majority and Republicans have a slim majority in the Senate, it’s unlikely that any objections will be sustained.