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Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022

USA117th CongressS-4573| Senate 
| Updated: 10/18/2022
Susan M. Collins

Susan M. Collins

Republican Senator

Maine

Cosponsors (38)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Mitch McConnell (Republican)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Todd Young (Republican)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Roy Blunt (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Ben Sasse (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Patrick Toomey (Republican)Rob Portman (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Richard Burr (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Rules and Administration Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 This bill revises the process of casting and counting electoral votes for presidential elections. The bill also revises provisions related to the presidential transition process. The bill specifies that the choice of electors must occur in accordance with the laws of the state enacted prior to election day. Additionally, the bill identifies each state's governor (unless otherwise identified in the laws or constitution of a state in effect on election day) as responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying the state's electors. Further, the bill provides for expedited judicial review for any action brought by an aggrieved presidential or vice-presidential candidate arising under the U.S. Constitution or U.S. laws with respect to the issuance or transmission of such a certificate. 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 Vice President during the joint session shall be ministerial in nature, and (2) raises the objection threshold in Congress to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill also revises the presidential transition process, including to (1) allow more than one candidate to receive federal transition resources under certain circumstances, and (2) require additional reporting by the General Services Administration.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
Jul 20, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Jul 20, 2022
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3545-3546)
Sep 15, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-8846
Introduced in House
Sep 27, 2022
Committee on Rules and Administration. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Oct 18, 2022
Committee on Rules and Administration. Reported by Senator Klobuchar under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Oct 18, 2022
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
  • July 20, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 20, 2022
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3545-3546)


  • September 15, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-8846
    Introduced in House


  • September 27, 2022
    Committee on Rules and Administration. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.


  • October 18, 2022
    Committee on Rules and Administration. Reported by Senator Klobuchar under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • October 18, 2022
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-8846: Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022
  • HR 117-8824: Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022
Congressional officers and employeesCongressional operations and organizationCongressional oversightConstitution and constitutional amendmentsElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal district courtsFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsJudgesJudicial review and appealsLegislative rules and procedurePresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsState and local government operationsSupreme CourtVoting rights

Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022

USA117th CongressS-4573| Senate 
| Updated: 10/18/2022
Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 This bill revises the process of casting and counting electoral votes for presidential elections. The bill also revises provisions related to the presidential transition process. The bill specifies that the choice of electors must occur in accordance with the laws of the state enacted prior to election day. Additionally, the bill identifies each state's governor (unless otherwise identified in the laws or constitution of a state in effect on election day) as responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying the state's electors. Further, the bill provides for expedited judicial review for any action brought by an aggrieved presidential or vice-presidential candidate arising under the U.S. Constitution or U.S. laws with respect to the issuance or transmission of such a certificate. 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 Vice President during the joint session shall be ministerial in nature, and (2) raises the objection threshold in Congress to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill also revises the presidential transition process, including to (1) allow more than one candidate to receive federal transition resources under certain circumstances, and (2) require additional reporting by the General Services Administration.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 20, 2022
Introduced in Senate
Jul 20, 2022
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3545-3546)
Sep 15, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-8846
Introduced in House
Sep 27, 2022
Committee on Rules and Administration. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Oct 18, 2022
Committee on Rules and Administration. Reported by Senator Klobuchar under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Oct 18, 2022
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
  • July 20, 2022
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 20, 2022
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3545-3546)


  • September 15, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-8846
    Introduced in House


  • September 27, 2022
    Committee on Rules and Administration. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.


  • October 18, 2022
    Committee on Rules and Administration. Reported by Senator Klobuchar under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • October 18, 2022
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
Susan M. Collins

Susan M. Collins

Republican Senator

Maine

Cosponsors (38)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Mitch McConnell (Republican)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Todd Young (Republican)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Roy Blunt (Republican)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Ben Sasse (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Patrick Toomey (Republican)Rob Portman (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Richard Burr (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Rules and Administration Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-8846: Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022
  • HR 117-8824: Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional officers and employeesCongressional operations and organizationCongressional oversightConstitution and constitutional amendmentsElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal district courtsFederal officialsGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsJudgesJudicial review and appealsLegislative rules and procedurePresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsState and local government operationsSupreme CourtVoting rights