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| Special to the Canton Repository
On Jan. 4, I said I would be challenging some states’ results during the Electoral College certification. I honored that commitment two days later.
First, let me say no mob, regardless of their politics, will ever coerce me into changing my mind. The attack on the Capitol was disgusting and un-American, as I said that day. Every person involved should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent. There is never any excuse for political violence; not when a mentally disturbed Bernie Sanders supporter shoots Republican members of Congress at baseball practice, not when Antifa attempts to burn a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, and not when extremists plot an attack on the Capitol.
As a former member of the Ohio legislature, I know how important input and approval is from state-level representatives on administering elections. Too many elections have become subject to lawsuits and attempts to change the rules mid-game.
That happened in the 2020 election, especially in Pennsylvania where the state Supreme Court sided with the Secretary of State to extend the deadline for mail-in ballots to three days after the election, violating legislative directives. The U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4 on the case. Pennsylvania’s directive on “ballot curing,” correcting errors on mail-in ballots, was sent to county election officials just days before election day. The hasty and uneven application of the directive left some residents unable to cure their ballot at all, while other counties allowed voters to either fix their mail-in ballot or vote provisionally.
Ohio has similar mail-in ballot provisions, and in fact has a longer window of eleven days, with two key differences. First, ballots must be postmarked the day before, not the day of the election. Secondly, this provision was approved by the state’s legislature instead of an edict by our Secretary of State.
Ohio’s mail-in voting procedures also require identification, like a driver’s license or Social Security number, and ballot harvesting is prohibited. Not all states have these security features. Some states have even adopted the troublesome practice of mailing ballots, not request forms, but actual ballots to anyone registered.
A few states have seen success in this practice, but too many saw considerable problems trying to implement it: Stacks of ballots were left in apartment buildings in Paterson, New Jersey. In Washington, D.C., residents took to Twitter complaining about receiving multiple ballots, including ballots addressed to deceased people or people who have not resided at that address for years. Beyond that problem, ballots yet to be filled out were found hiding under a rock in Arizona, while New York State had difficulty administering its primary.
One cause is inaccurate, poorly maintained voter rolls. Ohio participates in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which helps states maintain accurate voter information. Unfortunately, not all states participate. However, participation itself is not a cure-all. As Ohio worked to clean up voter rolls, the Ohio Democratic Party filed a lawsuit to stop the process. During that time, mainstream media headlines consistently called the lawful action a “purge”, tainting the process as nefarious.
I objected to some Electoral College results knowing we would not succeed. There are huge holes in our election integrity we must address. Multiple states are using voting machines connected to the internet according to a CNBC report published last year. A team of researchers located machines through their internet connections, exposing a security vulnerability as wide as the Grand Canyon.
None of these issues were covered by the mainstream media. Nor, inexplicably, did Trump campaign lawyers raise them before the election. Considering these issues, could one consider it controversial to challenge election results as a way to highlight election security problems? Perhaps, though I do not agree. Is it unprecedented to challenge election results with the intention of raising systemic issues? Hardly.
Ohio’s own Stephanie Tubbs Jones teamed up with then-Senator Barbara Boxer to do the same thing in 2005. Not only was there no outrage, but the New York Times editorial board celebrated it. House Democrats made similar attempts in 2001 and 2017.
Previous efforts were not met with or stoked by violent uprisings. Neither should have this year’s efforts. Since the Capitol attack, several of my Democratic colleagues have the nerve to say I and others in Congress are a security threat. That is ridiculous and offensive. Can anyone reasonably expect bipartisan cooperation when mere political opponents are demonized as literal threats to their safety? I also reject their baseless, evidence-free accusations that Republican representatives gave rioters “inside help.”
Perhaps political rhetoric has quickly overheated. After the Capitol attack, preceded by violence in cities across the country, a cooling off period is warranted. I don’t consider myself a moderate. I take pride in being among the most conservative representatives, but that does not I blame only one side, nor does it mean we cannot work together.
Republicans have said it is incumbent on President Biden to take the lead on uniting the country as he pledged to do. That is true, if only because of the unique megaphone the presidency carries. It is not a one-way street. If President Biden is willing to listen, work, and compromise with Republicans, I will make the same commitment to work on issues where we share common ground, and work to change his mind on issues we do not.
Unfortunately, President Biden’s first actions have yet to match his call for unity: killing the Keystone XL pipeline and the border wall, readmitting the United States into the Paris climate agreement, and rescinding a policy that blocks federal funds to international groups providing abortion services. Most importantly, President Biden could exhibit leadership by calling on Congressional Democrats to halt impeachment proceedings of a President who is no longer in office. He has yet to do so.
There will always be political disagreements, but if President Biden wants to walk his talk of unity, bringing Republicans to the table on the most controversial and contentious issues is the best way for him, congressional Republicans, and the nation to move forward.
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, represents Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, which includes a portion of Stark County.
