WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) cosponsored legislation introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) this week to establish the 2020 Bipartisan Advisory Committee to examine how state legislatures carried out the electoral process and the integrity of the November 2020 election.

This committee would be charged with examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the election, including decisions made by state legislatures to change normal election procedures, as well as examine security measures to protect election results. The commission will use the information it collects to make recommendations to state legislatures to improve the administration of federal elections.

“Every American should have absolute confidence that when they cast their vote, it will be counted fairly and equally,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would create a commission tasked with examining the security, fairness and integrity of the 2020 November election to ensure state legislatures are equipped to administer safe and fair elections. It is imperative to our democracy that Americans have faith in our election system, and this commission is an important step in restoring that trust and making certain every vote is counted correctly.”

The 2020 Bipartisan Advisory Committee will be composed of 18 members; 9 appointed by the Republican Senate leader in consultation with the House minority leader and 9 appointed by the Speaker of the House in consultation with the Democrat Senate leader.

Background on the 2020 Bipartisan Advisory Committee provided by Sen. Tim Scott’s office:

The Advisory Committee will study:

• the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the election;
• the election practices adopted in response to the COVID–19 pandemic;
• practices regarding mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, and vote-by-mail procedures;
• practices that would have allowed improper or fraudulent voter registration or votes;
• the scope of any improper or fraudulent voter registration or votes;
• and practices that would bolster public confidence in the integrity of future general elections.

The Advisory Committee will submit two reports:

• The initial report will include precinct-by-precinct data highlighting the number and incidence of any improper and fraudulent voter registrations and improper and fraudulent votes that were cast in the election.
• The final report will include recommendations on best practices that each level of local and State Government should adopt for:
  • administering elections for federal office during a pandemic and other national emergencies;
  • mitigating fraud and increasing the integrity and security of mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, and vote-by-mail procedures; and
  • preventing improper or fraudulent votes from being cast and stop improper voters from being registered.

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