(Washington, D.C., Wednesday, October 28, 2020) – Count Every Vote is a nonpartisan effort devoted to defending the legitimacy of our elections and ensuring that every American’s vote is counted. It is sponsored by the National Council on Election Integrity, a bipartisan group of more than 40 former elected officials, former Cabinet secretaries, retired military officials, and civic leaders.

Zach Wamp (R), former U.S. Representative and member of the National Council on Election Integrity, explains why it will take longer to count the votes this year.

SOUNDBITE:

COUNTING EVERY VOTE IS THE AMERICAN WAY. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU’RE A DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, OR INDEPENDENT — YOU SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. IN AMERICA, OUR ELECTIONS HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE RULES AND PROCEDURES IN EACH STATE, AND WE COUNT EVERY VOTE CAST IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. SO NO MATTER WHO WINS OR HOW LONG IT TAKES TO COUNT THE LAWFUL VOTES, WE NEED A FAIR AND COMPLETE VOTE COUNT.

Tim Roemer (D), former Ambassador, former U.S. Representative and member of the National Council on Election Integrity, explains why we must make sure that every vote is counted.

SOUNDBITE:

EXPERTS OVERWHELMINGLY AGREE THAT IT IS UNLIKELY WE WILL HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IMMEDIATELY ON NOVEMBER THIRD. BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, WE’RE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED USE OF MAIL-IN AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS. AMERICANS NEED TO BE PATIENT AND PEACEFUL WHILE EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED SO THE ELECTION OFFICIALS CAN DO THEIR JOBS. AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, WE MUST REMAIN PATEINT AND PEACEFUL – BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTION DAY.

For more information, please visit counteveryvote.org.