Presidential Election Reform Act

Bill: 117-hr-8873
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2022-09-19 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal district courts
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Legislative rules and procedure
Natural disasters
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations
Supreme Court
Terrorism
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: 

Presidential Election Reform Act

 
This bill revises the process of casting and counting electoral votes for presidential elections.
 
The bill specifies that the choice of electors must occur in accordance with the laws of the state enacted prior to election day. 
 
Next, the bill specifies that the voting time for a state's presidential election may only be extended due to a catastrophic event.
 Catastrophic event 
means a major natural disaster, act of terrorism, or widespread power outage if it (1) prevents a substantial portion of a state's electorate from casting a ballot on election day, or (2) causes a substantial number of ballots already cast in a state to be destroyed or rendered unreadable.
 
Additionally, the bill requires each state's governor to certify the appointment of electors for the state. Further, the bill provides for expedited judicial review for an action brought by an aggrieved presidential or vice-presidential candidate with respect to the issuance or transmission of a certificate of appointment.
 
The bill revises the framework for the joint session of Congress to count electoral votes and make a formal declaration of which candidates have been elected President and Vice President. Among other changes, the bill (1) specifies that the role of the presiding officer (the Vice President or, in the absence of the Vice President, the President pro tempore) during the joint session shall be ministerial in nature, and (2) raises the objection threshold in Congress to at least one-third of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

action_date: 2022-09-21
text: 

Presidential Election Reform Act

 
This bill revises the process of casting and counting electoral votes for presidential elections.
 
The bill specifies that the choice of electors must occur in accordance with the laws of the state enacted prior to election day.
 
Next, the bill specifies that the voting time for a state's presidential election may only be extended due to a catastrophic event. 
Catastrophic event
 means a major natural disaster, act of terrorism, or widespread power outage if it (1) prevents a substantial portion of a state's electorate from casting a ballot on election day, or (2) causes a substantial number of ballots already cast in a state to be destroyed or rendered unreadable.
 
Additionally, the bill requires each state's governor to certify the appointment of electors for the state. Further, the bill provides for expedited judicial review for an action brought by an aggrieved presidential or vice-presidential candidate with respect to the issuance or transmission of a certificate of appointment.
 
The bill revises the framework for the joint session of Congress to count electoral votes and make a formal declaration of which candidates have been elected President and Vice President. Among other changes, the bill (1) specifies that the role of the presiding officer (the Vice President or, in the absence of the Vice President, the President pro tempore) during the joint session shall be ministerial in nature, and (2) raises the objection threshold in Congress to at least one-third of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-22
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 229 - 203 (Roll No. 449). (text: CR H8032-8036)
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 229 - 203 (Roll No. 449).(text: CR H8032-8036)
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8873.
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8873 with 1 hour of general debate. Resolution also provides one motion to recommit.
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1372. (consideration: CR H8032-8048)
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Rule H. Res. 1372 passed House.
action_date: 2022-09-20
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1372 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8873 with 1 hour of general debate. Resolution also provides one motion to recommit.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Introduced in House