[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 82 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5164-H5165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2340
                ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). As stated by the Chairman of 
the Committee on House Administration on Friday, June 23, 2000, the 
Clerk has informed the Committee on House Administration of a recent 
anomaly on a recorded vote. Representative Roybal-Allard was absent on 
rollcall number 305 on June 21, 2000 and was in possession of her 
voting card. The Clerk was made aware of the fact that she was recorded 
on that rollcall, but on no others on that day, but due to the lateness 
of the hour, could not get confirmation from her by the time the

[[Page H5165]]

vote was made public that she was absent and in possession of her 
voting card. Since then, the Clerk has received that confirmation. For 
that reason and the statistical improbability of the recurrence of that 
anomaly, the Chair and the Chairman of the Committee on House 
Administration believe that it is proper to immediately correct the 
Record and the Journal.
  As stated in Volume 14, Section 32 of Deschler-Brown Precedents:

       Since the inception of the electronic system, the Speaker 
     has resisted attempts to permit corrections to the electronic 
     tally after announcement of a vote. This policy is based upon 
     the presumptive reliability of electronic device and upon the 
     responsibility of each Member to correctly cast and verify 
     his or her vote.

  Based upon the explanation received from the Chairman of the 
Committee on House Administration and from the Clerk, the Chair will 
continue to presume the reliability of the electronic device, so long 
as the Clerk is able to give that level of assurance which justifies a 
continuing presumption of its integrity. Without objection, the Chair 
will permit the immediate correction of the Record and Journal under 
the unique circumstances certified by the Clerk.
  There was no objection.

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