House Republicans have decided to introduce penalizing states that exclude Republican frontrunner Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot. Under the proposed legislation, states such as Maine and Colorado would face the consequence of having their electoral votes disregarded during the certification process.
According to Rep. Clay Higgins, the bill establishes a new law. Higgins said, “If any state in our Union blocks the official nominee of a major political party from the Presidential ballot, their electoral slate will not be counted by Congress on the following January 6th. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
New law… If any state in our Union blocks the official nominee of a major political party from the Presidential ballot, their electoral slate will not be counted by Congress on the following January 6th.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Have a very MAGA Christmas. pic.twitter.com/9ko6Q7wHzi
— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) December 22, 2023
The suggested change to US Code Title 3 aims to add a rule to the Electoral Count Act of 1887. This rule says that if a state doesn’t have a major political party’s candidate for President on its ballot, the votes from that state won’t be counted.
Reacting to the developments, Maine Senator Susan Collins emphasized the importance of allowing Maine voters to determine the election outcome. Collins stated, “Maine voters should decide who wins the election – not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature.”
Collins also criticized the Secretary of State’s decision as denying thousands of Maine voters the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate, and she called for it to be reversed.
Senator Thom Tillis also joined the discussion, expressing his intention to introduce legislation in response to the situation in Maine. “Maine’s Democrat Secretary of State just removed Trump from the ballot.”
He adds, “This is an egregious abuse of power, and I will introduce the Constitutional Election Integrity Act as soon as Congress returns to session to stop these partisan officials and ensure any constitutional challenge is only decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
These developments coincide with a Colorado court ruling to take Trump off the ballot, pending appeal, and Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removing him.
In both situations, officials or judges asserted that Trump’s involvement in the events following the 2020 presidential election justified their actions without affording him due process.
The controversial efforts by Maine and Colorado raise concerns about the fundamental principles of democracy. The right of voters to choose their preferred candidate is a cornerstone of the electoral process, and any attempts to force candidates off the ballot undermine this essential aspect of our democratic system.
It is crucial to uphold the integrity of fair and free elections by ensuring that voters can support the candidate of their choice without any interference. We must resist any measures restricting the options available to voters and instead promote a system that truly reflects the people’s will.
