Coronavirus Restrictions Could Lead To Remote Voting For Congress
The spread of the coronavirus has created unprecedented problems for Congress as it confronts how to conduct legislative business after the infection of several members.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Politico, “We probably cannot keep operating all in one location.”
For all of U.S. history so far, the House and Senate have had to take votes in person, in their respective chambers. Now, public health measures may prevent that.
As a former counsel for the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983, I believe the Constitution permits Congress to use a method of voting other than gathering on the floor of their legislative chambers.
Framers’ language
The Framers who designed the constitutional structure for how things would work in Congress based it on parliamentary and colonial practices.
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