North Dakota HCR 3047: A concurrent resolution urging Congress not to adopt H.R. 1 of the 117th Congress.

Bill Text

Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 5, 2021
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3047
(Representatives Louser, Becker, Jones, Kasper, B. Koppelman, K. Koppelman, Pollert)
(Senators Meyer, Vedaa)
(Approved by the Delayed Bills Committee)
A concurrent resolution urging Congress not to adopt H.R. 1 of the 117
th Congress.
WHEREAS, H.R. 1, a sweeping federal bill that would usurp the power of states to conduct
elections as they see fit, against the intentions of our nation's founders, is currently under consideration
by Congress; and
WHEREAS, Section 4 of Article I of the United States Constitution grants the legislative branch of
each state the authority to prescribe the "Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators
and Representatives," an authority Congress should supersede only in "extraordinary circumstances"
according to Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Number 59; and
WHEREAS, voting laws have evolved across the 50 states over time, providing more and more
access, security, and accuracy. However, most importantly, each of those same 50 states has created
its own unique election systems. From who administers the elections, to how votes are cast, to how a
vote is protected--each unique system was born of federalism; and
WHEREAS, the imperfection of voting laws across the country is not proof that H.R. 1 is necessary
or appropriate, but rather evidence that United States citizens are continuing to strive toward a more
perfect union; and
WHEREAS, forcing completely new standards, procedures, and expectations into state election
systems, which are not built for those requirements, as is the case under H.R. 1, would bring chaos to
those election systems, and that chaos would bring with it a lack of trust by the people in the results of
those elections; and
WHEREAS, in North Dakota, we have developed a system that has ensured voters have
confidence in the outcome of our elections. Voter fraud and voter suppression are exceedingly rare, and
our efforts to strengthen the security of our elections have become a model for others;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH
DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
That the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly affirms our belief in the federal structure of the United
States government and declares current voting laws a credit to the design of federal government to
allow for democratic experimentation throughout the several states; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly urges Congress not to
adopt H.R. 1; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution to each
member of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation.

H. C. R. NO. 3047 - PAGE 2
____________________________ ____________________________
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
____________________________ ____________________________
Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2021,
at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________
Secretary of State