Rep. Chris Stewart and Rep. Burgess Owens are among 24 lawmakers to support the Securing Our Students Act. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY– In a Twitter post Monday, Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah said he will not vote to certify the presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden. Stewart is the second Utah congressman to oppose certifying the election results — newly elected Burgess Owens was the first.
Stewart cited unresolved “issues surrounding voting irregularities” as his reasoning for not voting to certify the election.
“Until we have resolved the issues surrounding voting irregularities, ballot integrity and security, and the implementation of state election laws, I can not, in good conscience, uphold the oath I took to protect and defend our constitution by voting to certify the election,” said Stewart.
Nearly all of the roughly 50 lawsuits filed by the president or his allies challenging the results of the election were either dismissed or dropped, including two losses at the U.S. Supreme Court.
However, during a conversation with KSL NewsRadio’s Live Mic with Lee Lonsberry, Stewart said many states heard instances of voting irregularities from voters that caused him concern.
Stewart didn’t provide a specific example of the irregularities in question but noted a group of Pennsylvania legislators wrote a letter to Congress “saying ‘the [voting] irregularities in Pennsylvania are so severe, we’re asking you not to certify our state’s Electoral.'”
Additionally, Stewart said “the Supreme Court didn’t look at the evidence regarding border integrity or election integrity,” instead, “virtually every one of these court cases was actually deciding on technical issues of law, not on a body of evidence.”
He went on to say the courts haven’t heard the irregularities state legislators have and that’s worthing asking why not.
“It doesn’t take a court to determine that you have dozens and dozens of affidavits, sworn under penalty of perjury, by responsible, and once again, bipartisan individuals who have attested to meaningful voter irregularities,” said Stewart.
He explained if there was a little more time to investigate voting irregularities claims made by voters, it would put a lot of Americans at ease and ensure the correct election result.
“That’s all we’re [some members of Congress] asking for–do a 10-day audit,” explained Stewart. “So we can assure the American people that we’ve had the right outcome here.
“Let’s make sure that we have answered these questions to the very best of our ability.”
In the series of tweets, Stewart mentioned he planned to object to the election certification.
“Voting is the most important duty we exercise in a republic. By my objection to certify the election, I am safeguarding the sanctity of each vote,” said Stewart.
When KSL asked Stewart’s staff to clarify whether he would vote for, against or “present,” which is one of the options available to the congressman, they issued this reply:
“He’s not voting for it [the certification of the presidential election results], so he’s voting against it.”
However, Stewart made it clear that he doesn’t believe his objection to the vote certification will overturn the election results.
“I’m not saying that this is going to overturn the election. I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely that it will,” said Stewart. “I’m saying that the American people deserve to know.”
Additionally, Stewart noted his vote not to certify the results is a way for him to protect the integrity of the vote.
“I’m not ever here to overturn the will of the people. I’m here to certify the will of the people,” said Stewart
Congress votes in a joint session to certify the Electoral College votes on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 — the last chance for members of the House and Senate to object to the results before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20.