Bill Overview
Title: Presidential Election Reform Act
Description: 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.
Sponsors: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Target Audience
Population: registered voters in the United States
Estimated Size: 168000000
- The bill primarily impacts the process of presidential elections in the United States.
- It revises how electoral votes are cast and counted, which directly affects the election outcome.
- The choice of electors must align with state laws established before election day, impacting state-level election processes.
- Voting times can only be extended under specific circumstances, affecting the state's electorate's ability to vote during emergencies.
- Each state's governor has a formal role in certifying electors, thus potentially impacting state executive responsibilities.
- Provides expedited judicial review, impacting candidates running for president and vice-president.
- Overall, the bill affects all registered voters in the U.S. as it changes the procedures and regulations governing presidential elections.
Reasoning
- The Presidential Election Reform Act affects all registered voters, as it changes the presidential election process.
- It may particularly impact voters in states with strict voting laws or those prone to catastrophic events.
- State governors and election officials may experience changes in their official responsibilities, impacting their administrative duties.
- Candidates in presidential elections might pursue judicial reviews more frequently due to expedited provisions.
- For most everyday voters, the impact of the policy might be indirect unless an election dispute occurs within their state.
Simulated Interviews
School Teacher (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I like the idea of having a clear set of rules laid out before elections.
- I'm concerned about what constitutes a catastrophic event; elections should be accessible to all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Developer (California)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reforming how elections are counted is a step in the right direction.
- I'm worried this won't address cybersecurity threats thoroughly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Nurse (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about not being able to vote if a storm hits here, and it's not deemed 'catastrophic.'
- I approve of steps that prepare us for election integrity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Journalist (New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will help bring some clarity to the election coverage process.
- Raising the threshold for Congress objecting is positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Pennsylvania)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm doubting this will change my ability to vote in elections.
- Looks like a lot of political talk, not sure of real impact on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good that Governors have to verify electors, ensuring checks.
- Expedited review could mean swifter conclusions in contentious elections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Truck Driver (Georgia)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The threshold for extending voting makes some sense, but needs clarity.
- Pleased with guidelines on appointing electors, needs strong oversight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
University Student (Michigan)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having laws set well before election day is sensible.
- I'm excited to vote but hope this doesn't lead to complications or denials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Political Analyst (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This reform is a welcome change to clarify roles and processes.
- However, the impact on actual voter turnout remains questionable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Lawyer (Colorado)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The legal perspectives of this law seem sound and needed.
- Could have stronger measures for voting accessibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $117500000 (Low: $80000000, High: $150000000)
Year 2: $117500000 (Low: $80000000, High: $150000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Administrative costs associated with new election protocols and procedures.
- Legal costs associated with expedited judicial reviews for election disputes.
- The need for training and outreach to ensure smooth implementation of new processes.
- Potential state-level costs for compliance with updated federal requirements.