# Plain Language Summary: The Hands Off Our Election Resolution of 2023

This resolution is essentially a statement expressing Congress's opinion that the federal government shouldn't interfere with how states run their elections. It's not a law that actually changes anything—it's more like an official declaration of what some members of Congress believe should be true. The resolution argues that the Constitution gives states the power to make their own rules about elections, and that the federal government has been overstepping its authority by trying to impose national election standards.

The resolution specifically criticizes H.R. 1, a bill from the previous Congress that attempted to create federal voting standards across all states. That earlier bill included things like automatic voter registration, expanded early voting, and new campaign finance rules—all things the sponsors of this resolution view as federal overreach. By passing this resolution, supporters are saying Congress should respect state authority over elections rather than creating one-size-fits-all federal rules.

In practical terms, this resolution doesn't directly change any laws or voting procedures. It's a symbolic statement that could influence future legislative debates about election policy. If Congress agrees with this resolution, it might be less likely to pass new federal voting laws in the future. However, it's important to note that this is a concurrent resolution, which means it expresses Congress's opinion but doesn't have the force of law. The actual balance of power between states and the federal government over elections would still be determined by the Constitution, court decisions, and whatever laws Congress actually passes—not by this symbolic statement.

The Hands Off Our Election Resolution of 2023

Santos, George

Hands Off Our Election Resolution of 2023 This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that federal overreach into election law violates the states' constitutional right to govern aspects of election law under Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution (which includes clause 1, known as the Elections Clause, that provides states with the initial and principal authority to administer elections within their jurisdictions).