Senate GOP hints at openness to a very specific voting reform bill

John Barrasso, Mitch McConnell, John Thune
(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, floated the idea Tuesday that his caucus has "some interest" in amending the 1887 Electoral Count Act, telling Axios that "as we saw last time around, there are some things there that, I think, could be corrected." Former President Donald Trump and his allies used a fringy interpretation of the law in an unsuccessful push to get Vice President Mike Pence to essentially overturn the election last Jan. 6.

By Wednesday, a number of GOP senators were generally agreeing with Thune, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The Electoral Count Act "obviously has some flaws," he said. "And it is worth, I think, discussing." Specifically, Thune said, "the role of the vice president needs to be codified, so it's clear what that is," and "there's some question about how many senators or House members it ought to take to object before it triggers a vote."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.