Skip to main content
HR 8873 117th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Civil actions and liability Congressional officers and employees Congressional operations and organization Congressional oversight Constitution and constitutional amendments Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Federal district courts Federal officials Government information and archives Intergovernmental relations Legislative rules and procedure Natural disasters Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents State and local government operations Supreme Court Terrorism Voting rights

Presidential Election Reform Act

Introduced: September 19, 2022 Introduced by: Lofgren, Zoe Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 22, 2022
Received in the Senate.
Sep 21, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 21, 2022
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Sep 21, 2022
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8873 with 1 hour of general debate. Resolution also provides one motion to recommit.
Sep 21, 2022
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1372. (consideration: CR H8032-8048)
Sep 21, 2022
Rule H. Res. 1372 passed House.
Sep 21, 2022
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 229 - 203 (Roll No. 449). (text: CR H8032-8036)
Sep 21, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8873.
Sep 20, 2022
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1372 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8873 with 1 hour of general debate. Resolution also provides one motion to recommit.
Sep 19, 2022
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2022
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 21, 2022 House · vote #449 On Passage Passed 229–203 See who voted →
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Presidential Election Reform Act

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.

What's happening now September 22, 2022

Received in the Senate.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HRES 1372 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8873) to amend title 3, United States Code, to reform the process for the…
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8873: Presidential Election Reform Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8873/
MLA
"H.R. 8873: Presidential Election Reform Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8873/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8873, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8873/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8873: Presidential Election Reform Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8873/)
Report a problem