What is the Electoral Count Act of 1887?

The Electoral Count Act of 1887 was passed by Congress to set up the rules for how states would tally their Electoral College Votes at the end of a presidential election. The Act created a “safe harbor” period for the state legislatures to certify their election results before the Electoral College meets. The Act also designed a way for Congress to settle any disputes over the count. The Act stated that all states must submit their Electoral College votes to Congress, either in person or by mail, by a specified date. According to the Act, any votes received after that date are not counted. The Act also created a “safe harbor” period where the Electoral College votes submitted by the states are presumed to be accurate and can’t be challenged. The 1887 Act was designed to provide some consistency to the process of counting Electoral College votes and to prevent prolonged disputes between states. In Minnesota, the Act is implemented by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. Each year, the office certifies the results of the state’s Presidential election and submits the Electoral Votes to Congress. The Electoral Count Act of 1887 is still in force today and is essential to administering fair and reliable elections. By setting up a safe harbor period for certifying votes and providing a way to resolve any disputes, the Act helps ensure that every state’s Electoral College votes are counted accurately and on time.

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What is the Electoral Count Act of 1887?

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