[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 3 (Thursday, January 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E47-E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2005

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to state that it 
was my intention to vote

[[Page E48]]

against the objection raised against the electoral vote count in Ohio. 
Unfortunately, due to the timing of the vote, the short notice of the 
vote, and various weather related issues, I was unable to fly back to 
Washington, DC in time to cast my vote in the afternoon of January 6th. 
I am however, hand-delivering this message to the Clerk of the House in 
Washington, DC, today January 7th, in order to make my voice heard and 
to explain my absence. I wholeheartedly support the election results of 
2004 and do not believe that this objection was the right course of 
action. Congress has repeatedly looked at the issue of election 
practices and fairness and has taken action where it sees fit; most 
recently with the Help America Vote Act. We will continue to look at 
these issues from the 2004 election and take necessary steps to ensure 
that our election process is a free, fair, and open one. I regret the 
fact that I was unable to cast my official vote, but it is my hope that 
these words will convey my strong beliefs on this issue and that by 
hand-delivering this message, my intent to personally partake in this 
debate will be reflected.

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