’It is our solemn duty to protect the people’: Governors promise to ensure election integrity

Gov. Jay Inslee joined a coalition of governors to issue a statement Wednesday addressing recent threats to the upcoming presidential election, according to a press release.

“As governors, it is our solemn duty to protect the people of our states. Today, we affirm that all votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted and that democracy will be delivered in this election. That means all valid ballots cast in accordance with state and local laws must be counted, and that all states must properly appoint electors in accordance with the vote,” the statement read.

The statement comes after the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden as well as recent comments by Trump where he declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

“We’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump said at a news conference, responding to a question about whether he’d commit to a peaceful transfer of power. “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”

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The coalition includes governors from Oregon, California, New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, Minnesota, Delaware, Nevada and New Mexico.

The statement talks about how regardless of the outcome in November, efforts to disenfranchise voters are unacceptable. It also calls upon elected officials from both parties to “speak loudly against such efforts in the weeks ahead.”

It also affirms that all votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted.

“And if the outcome of this election means the end of a presidency, he must leave office — period,” it reads.

Cox Media Group