Congressman David Valadao of California spearheaded the introduction of the Election Results Accountability Act, alongside Reps. Jay Obernolte, Vince Fong, Ken Calvert, Kevin Kiley, Tom McClintock, and Darrell Issa. The bill seeks to establish federal deadlines for ballot counting and certification to bolster public trust in the democratic process.
“In California it can take weeks to certify election results, which undermines the public trust necessary for free and fair elections,” said Congressman Valadao. He emphasized the need for timely and transparent results to ensure confidence in the democratic process. Rep. Obernolte stated, “Some states took over a month to certify the results of the 2024 elections. That kind of delay erodes the public’s trust in our electoral system.”
Rep. Fong underscored the overdue need for clear procedures in federal elections, while Rep. Calvert highlighted the importance of accurate and timely election results for maintaining democracy’s integrity. Rep. Kiley criticized California’s prolonged certification process, suggesting it leads to distrust and confusion. Lastly, Rep. Issa supported establishing a “commonsense standard” to assure public confidence in election outcomes.
The proposed legislation includes exceptions for uncontrollable events, like natural disasters and cyberattacks, and mandates states complete ballot counting and certification within specific timeframes. Non-compliant states may face federal fund denial unless corrective plans are approved by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the Department of Justice. The bill, amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002, will apply to federal elections held 90 days after enactment.
