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November 16, 2020

Statement of ABA President Patricia Lee Refo Re: Presidential election

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 – The American people have voted in record numbers. Every vote expresses a citizen’s voice, and each vote legally cast must be counted. Our democracy is built upon the rule of law, which requires adhering to the laws and regulations established for elections. If there are any remaining, legitimate concerns about the enforcement or implementation of those laws, courts provide the venue to rule independently and with deliberation on those claims.  Once the courts have ruled, individuals have the right to disagree with those decisions, but that disagreement does not affect the validity of the court’s decisions. That is the very essence of the rule of law.

The rule of law also prescribes the peaceful transfer of power following an election.

Our institutions of democracy, established by law, once again proved their brilliance, even under the considerable strain of a pandemic and other challenges. The American public, volunteers, public servants, the judiciary and lawyers all deserve our heartfelt appreciation for their work to ensure the electoral process remains fair and just across our nation. 

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.