[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2177-E2178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL ELECTION FAIRNESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 4, 1997

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, without question, a fundamental necessity 
of our republican form of government is the participation of citizens 
in the electoral process. Today, across America, millions of voters 
will go to the polls and select their Representatives in Congress, the 
Governor's mansion, or their city council. These choices are extremely 
important and should enjoy the benefit of the collective wisdom of all 
citizens.

[[Page E2178]]

  Can you imagine if you were a voter today in Alexandria, VA, and, 
before you could reach your polling place, the media begins to report 
that, based on results in Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, and other areas, 
the Governor's race was over? Obviously, this might discourage you from 
making any extra effort in casting your vote. Although this is a 
preposterous example for Virginia or other individual States, this is 
exactly what happens every 4 years during most Presidential elections.
  It is demoralizing to be a voter on the West Coast on the way to the 
polls and hear on the car radio that the Presidential election is 
over--without your vote. In America's West, reports of results from the 
East is one significant factor in depressing voter turnout in 
Presidential elections. Certainly, Congress cannot restrict the freedom 
of the press to report factual information. However, we can take steps 
to delay the release of election results until after they would impact 
voters in States where polls are still open.
  Today I am introducing the National Election Fairness Act, which will 
restrict State and local election officials from releasing Presidential 
election results until after all polls have closed in the continental 
United States. This bill will not restrict the ability of news 
organizations to conduct exit polling or employ other methods to 
predict election outcomes, but will merely prevent official 
Presidential election results from being announced before western 
polling places have closed.
  I believe this limited measure will help to increase voter turnout in 
Presidential elections in my home State of California and in other 
States in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones. I hope my 
colleagues will join me in supporting this bill and taking steps to 
ensure a more equitable election process that values the votes of a 
voter in California or Washington as much as a voter in Florida or New 
York.

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