Jack Bergman

ALPENA — Northern Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman intends to object to some presidential electors today when Congress gathers to certify the Nov. 3 presidential election results showing Democrat Joe Biden won.

Bergman, R-Watersmeet, is doing so after hearing from residents in the 1st Congressional District who share concerns over the integrity of the election. Bergman’s district covers the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, including Northeast Michigan.

Bergman did not say which states he would protest, but they could include some or all of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, which other Republican lawmakers have said they plan to protest.

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and results have been certified in all states by county and statewide boards of canvassers.

“Since before Election Day, I have heard from literally thousands of constituents concerned about the security and integrity of our election,” Bergman said. “These concerns have been further validated across the nation as irregularities have surfaced and states have usurped voter laws and their own constitutions.”

Bergman said he isn’t interested in reversing the election results, but instead wants measures to be taken to be sure any wrongdoing is exposed and prevented in the future.

“I’m not calling to overturn an election, but millions of constituents have lost faith in our process,” he said. “We are calling for an Emergency Electoral Commission to perform an audit before the inauguration.”

In a press release, Bergman said objecting during the certification process is not an unprecedented action and was done in 2017, when seven Democratic members of Congress objected to the 2016 presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump.

Additionally, he said, in 2005, 31 House Democrats objected to the counting of Ohio’s electoral votes from the 2004 presidential election, claiming widespread irregularities on Election Day.

The House and Senate will convene to certify the Electoral College votes today. The process is expected to take longer than usual after a handful of senators and dozens of House members said they will vote against certifying Biden’s victory.

Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the proceedings.