Bipartisan senators define vice president's role in electoral certification as "solely ministerial" in new reform proposals
CBSN
A bipartisan group of 16 senators released two proposals to reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887 Wednesday, including one that defines the vice president's role in the electoral certification as "solely ministerial."
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia led the negotiations, aiming to head off a repeat of the rioting at the Capitol that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, when then-President Donald Trump tried to convince to Vice President Mike Pence to help overthrow the election by not certifying the 2020 election results.
The first proposal would update the ECA, clarifying the roles of Congress, the states and the vice president in affirming the electoral count. Under the bill, Congress identifies the single official in the state — usually the governor — who is empowered to submit the state's slate of electors in order to certify election results.
