Senate Bill Aims to Stop Future Attempts to Thwart Elections

Bipartisan group of senators unveil Electoral College changes
Measure clarifies vice president’s role as ceremonial

Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Susan Collins at the US Capitol. — Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Susan Collins at the US Capitol.
Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

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By Laura Litvan and David Hood

July 20, 2022 at 1:07 PM EDT

Updated on

July 20, 2022 at 2:12 PM EDT

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A group of Democratic and Republican senators say they have agreed on legislation aimed at preventing a repeat of the efforts last year by former President Donald Trump and his allies to throw out Electoral College votes and overturn the 2020 election.

Legislation drafted by GOP Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia alters the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to make clear that the vice president has only a ministerial role in certifying presidential election results. It also raises the threshold for members of Congress to object to a state’s presidential election results to 20% of lawmakers in each chamber, instead of just one lawmaker under current practice.