Sep 27, 2022 - Politics & Policy

McConnell supports bipartisan bill to reform Electoral Count Act

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 07, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a news conference on Sept. 7. Photo: Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he will support the bipartisan bill that would reform and modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887.

Why it matters: McConnell's endorsement of the bill, sponsored by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), bolsters the measure's chances of clearing the Senate.

Driving the news: "I strongly support the modest changes that our colleagues in the working group have fleshed out after literally months of detailed discussions," McConnell said Tuesday.

The big picture: McConnell's remarks come after the House last week voted to pass similar legislation to reform the Electoral Count Act to make it more difficult to subvert presidential elections.

Of note: "The full Senate is unlikely to act [on the legislation] before the November midterms, punting the issue until a lame-duck session of Congress at year’s end," CNN reported.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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