Melvin Watt: “I voted for H.R. 2844, the expedited election procedure which provides that States should try to have expedited…”

“I voted for H.R. 2844, the expedited election procedure which provides that States should try to have expedited elections in the event of a catastrophe within 45 days. I voted for that measure because I thought it was better than nothing, and prior to that we did not have a process in place. I voted for it because, on a motion to recommit, the opposing side, the Republican side, decided that they would accept the motion to recommit to at least make whatever State procedures were in place subject to the civil rights laws of our country and other voting rights laws. H.R. 2844 provided a transition position that will expedite an election within 45 days, but I still think that there is a need to have a debate about whether there ought to be a different process for replacing Members in the event of a catastrophe in a shorter time frame, and I am satisfied that the only way that that can happen would be through a constitutional amendment.”