A bipartisan group of 16 US senators Wednesday introduced two bills to reform election laws in a bid to avoid a repeat of the January 6 US Capitol attack. This group includes Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

The group introduced the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act and the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act.

The Electoral Count Reform Act will reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The act will require the governor of each state to identify and submit their state’s electors unless otherwise specified by state laws. The bill also provides an expedited judicial review for any action brought by an aggrieved candidate for president or vice president. It states that the vice president does not have the power to determine, accept, reject, or adjudicate disputes over electors. In addition, it requires one-fifth of both the House and the Senate to object to electors. Finally, states may only move their election date if necessitated by “extraordinary and catastrophic” events.

The Presidential Transition Improvement Act will allow more than one candidate to receive federal transition resources during a period when the outcome is reasonably in doubt. However, if there is a clear winner, only they will get transition resources. If neither candidate concedes, the administrator must report on the resources provided to each candidate, weekly reports to Congress, and issue a public written opinion that a single candidate be ascertained as the winner with a description.

Lastly, the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act will increase the penalty for threatening or intimidating election officials, poll watchers, voters, or candidates to two years in prison. It will also provide guidance to improve election mail handling and reauthorize the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for five years. The EAC administers grants and advice to states and election officials. In addition, the bill increases the maximum penalties for willfully stealing, destroying, concealing, or altering election records to a fine of USD 10,000 and two years in prison and states that it is illegal to tamper with voting systems.