A California Democratic representative is calling on Congress to permit “remote voting” in the event that the coronavirus limits state-to-state travel.
While appearing on CNN’s Cuomo Primetime, California Rep. Katie Porter said it’s incumbent on Congress to adopt a voting policy which would allow members to vote on measures even if they are not physically present in the chamber.
“We’re asking the American people to adopt public health measures, and it’s really important that Congress not only pass this bill, but that Congress adopt public health measures itself,” Porter said. “Congress itself has been flat-footed itself during this crisis in terms of how we deal with things.”
“I am calling on Congress tonight, on leaders of both parties, to adopt a remote-voting procedure to ensure that if we’re not able to travel, if this public health crisis worsens, that we’re still able to have a quorum and we’re still able to take votes,” Porter continued.
Cuomo pushed back on the legality of such a measure, asking if she anticipates any pushback by others should such a measure be proposed.
“You’re the law professor. What’s going to be the pushback about why they don’t usually allow remote votes? You know, we have seen that in the past, where people are sick: ‘Will he or she be able to make it back in time?’ What’s going to be the legal pushback? And how do you overcome it?”
“There is no legal barrier, that I am aware of, to remote voting,” Porter claimed.
“It could be adopted tonight, this evening, as part of an updated rules package in the House and then could be invoked if necessary. I represent the state of California. People there are worried. We have had outbreaks there. I answered the phone in my office this morning and talked firsthand to constituents about what’s going on. But those constituents are also counting on me to cast those votes.”
Porter then claimed President Trump is considering restricting interstate travel to and from California and Washington, which would necessitate the adoption of “remote voting.” However, it remains unclear how the process would be adopted in Congress.
Nearly 147,000 people have tested positive for the virus around the world, killing at least 5,500 people, according to the New York Times. In the United States, there are nearly 2,200 confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed approximately 49 people.
