Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that revises the process for casting and counting electoral college votes for presidential elections.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the choice of electors must occur in accordance with the laws of each state enacted prior to election day (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the voting time for a state’s presidential election may only be extended due to a catastrophic event, which prevents a substantial portion of a state’s electorate from casting a ballot on election day, or causes a substantial number of ballots already cast in a state to be destroyed or rendered unreadable (Sec. 3-4).

• Defines “catastrophic event” as a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or widespread power outage (Sec. 3-4).

• Requires each state governor to certify the appointment of electors for the state, and authorizes the expedited judicial review for an action brought by an aggrieved presidential or vice-presidential (VP) candidate with respect to the issuance or transmission of a certificate of appointment (Sec. 7).

• Amends the framework for the joint session of Congress to count electoral votes and make a formal declaration of which candidates have been elected for President of Vice President, including (Sec. 10):

• Specifying the role of the presiding officer (VP or in absence the President pro tempore) during the joint session shall be ministerial in nature; and

• Raising the objection threshold in Congress to at least one-third of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text