Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted in favor the Presidential Election Reform Act, bipartisan legislation to amend the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to reduce the likelihood of another effort to overturn presidential election results, like the one spearheaded by former President Donald Trump following the 2020 election.

“The January 6th insurrection was fueled by Donald Trump’s Big Lie. Thousands of extremists stormed the United States Capitol with the goal of overturning the 2020 election,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Today, I proudly voted to prevent history from repeating itself. By updating the Electoral Count Act, we’re taking a critical step toward ensuring the will of the people cannot be overturned by extremists in state or federal government. This bipartisan legislation must become law without delay.”

The Presidential Election Reform Act, introduced by Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) and Liz Cheney (R-WY-AL), makes multiple critical changes to the Electoral Count Act of 1887:

• Confirms the vice president’s ceremonial role. The amendments clarify that the vice president has no authority or discretion to reject official state electoral slates, to delay the count in any material way, or to issue procedural rulings that have such an effect.
• Raises the bar to object to state electors. This legislation increases the threshold needed for members of Congress to object to state electors from the current one member from each chamber to one-third of each chamber. 
• Requires governors to transmit lawful election results to Congress. If a governor or election official refuses to certify the election (and the court orders it must be certified), the new amendments authorize another state official to certify the state’s results, therefore inhibiting governors from blocking their state’s election certification process.
• Clarifies that the rules governing an election cannot change after the election has occurred.

The legislation passed the House 229-203, with 203 Republicans opposing the measure.

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