House appoints canvassing committee to review statewide results and administers oath to members

Pursuant to Joint Rule 24, the House of Representatives nominated and elected members to serve on the canvassing committee, which is charged with canvassing statewide election results and reporting them to the General Assembly at a joint assembly.

The speaker nominated three members from each senatorial district as required by Joint Rule 24; the list of nominees was read on the floor by district (nominees were named from Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden Central, Chittenden North, Chittenden Southeast, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor districts as read). The member from Essex Junction moved the election of the speaker’s nominees; the House approved the motion by voice vote. The presiding officer announced that “the ayes do have it” and that the canvassing committee members were elected on the part of the House.

The chair announced that Representative Birong of Vergennes was appointed to chair the committee on the part of the House. The Clerk administered the oath of office to the canvassing committee members on the floor; the oath directed members to faithfully execute their office and to do equal right and justice to all persons according to law. The chair said the committee will meet in Room 11 this afternoon to perform its duties.

Why it matters: The canvassing committee performs the formal review of statewide election results and reports to the joint assembly. The committee’s work is a required administrative step following statewide elections and precedes the joint assembly’s receipt of official results.

No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript for the election; the House disposition was announced by voice vote.