Monday, October 3, 2022

Why Republicans Support Electoral Count Reform Act

Ever wonder why the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform act is, well, bipartisan?

Why is it backed by the cunning Mitch McConnell? Republicans in general?

If you think it is because Republicans care about electoral reform then you are wrong. If you think it is Republicans being Republicans and are playing Democrats for the fools they are then you may be correct. 

While Republicans have torpedoed policies they have traditionally supported all in the name of politics, like most recently with Joe Manchin’s permitting reform bill, republicans inexplicably support a law that supposedly clears up some of the ambiguities of the original nineteenth century law. But if you look closely you may see why they are supporting this law - it really changes nothing. 

While it does clarify the role of the Vice President, which was a central piece of one of the insurrection plot to keep a President Trump in power, it also makes some other notable changes that on the surface seem to fix some of the problems with the law. 

For one it requires electors to follow state laws. Considering how Republicans are manipulating state elections, either through gerrymandering during the redistricting process or making it more difficult for Democratic voters to cast their ballot, pretty much ensuring their retention of power and thus the power to change those electoral laws electors must follow. 

The big change to the law is not with the Vice President or state legislatures but with the ability for congress to make an objection. While previously a single congressman or senator could have raised objections to a states’ election results, now it would require 20 percent of the chamber to do the same. 

Great, right?

Well considering that over 100 house Republicans objected to the election results, which would total to roughly half the republican caucus and more than the required amount under the new law, and this was all before Donald Trump solidified his power over the party, then it is pretty obvious that Republicans signed off on this law knowing they already meet the threshold for challenge. 

So considering that they can probably get the twenty percent needed to challenge results, republicans also gained the benefit of clarification. Part of the original issue with the law was that there was ambiguity. Now republicans could theoretically challenge an election and claim that they are in the right because they fixed the law, and with help from the Democrats to boot! 

Now you see why Republicans supported something Democrats wanted?