General Summary of the Bill

The bill, titled the "Presidential Ballot Integrity Act," proposes amendments to Title 3 of the United States Code, particularly related to the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The primary amendment outlined in the bill dictates that the electoral votes from a state should not be counted in a presidential election if that state did not include a candidate for President nominated by a "major political party" on its ballot. The definition of what constitutes a "major political party" is linked to Section 9002 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Summary of Significant Issues

One significant issue with the bill is that it could potentially lead to the disenfranchisement of voters. If a state's electoral votes are disregarded because a major party's candidate is absent from the ballot, the choice of the people from that state would be invalidated. This raises serious ethical and legal questions about voter rights and representation.

Another point of concern is the definition and understanding of what constitutes a "major political party." The bill refers to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for this definition, which might not be readily accessible or clear to the public. This could lead to confusion and misunderstanding about which parties qualify as "major political parties."

The wording used in the proposed bill, especially the phrase "if, with respect to the State of the elector in question," is convoluted and could lead to ambiguity and potential misinterpretation. This lack of clarity might open the door for legal challenges.

Moreover, the bill does not specify clear circumstances under which a candidate might not appear on a state's ballot. Without precise guidelines, there could be inconsistencies in how this law is applied, affecting states' compliance and hence, the integrity of elections.

Impact on the Public Broadly

If enacted, this bill could affect the outcome of presidential elections significantly by changing which votes are counted based on candidate availability on state ballots. Such a fundamental change in the counting of electoral votes raises broad implications for the democratic process. It could lead to a scenario where the expressed will of voters in certain states does not translate to electoral votes, potentially altering the outcome of presidential elections.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

State Governments: State election officials would be directly impacted by this legislation, as they would need to ensure compliance by including the correct major party candidates on ballots to ensure their electoral votes are counted. This might require changes in ballot procedures and additional verification processes, potentially straining state resources.

Major Political Parties: The bill could benefit major political parties by ensuring their candidates' presence in every state ballot, potentially solidifying their influence in presidential elections. However, it might also put pressure on third-party or independent candidates who could find their impact reduced if their exclusion could lead to a state's electoral votes being discounted.

Voters: For voters, the bill poses a risk of disenfranchisement if their state's electoral votes are not counted due to non-compliance with the amendments. This may especially affect states with strong independent or third-party candidate support, creating a tension between voter choice and adherence to party-nominated candidates.

In conclusion, while the bill seeks to enforce the presence of major party candidates on state ballots, it raises critical concerns about voter disenfranchisement, clarity in legislative wording, and the potential for significant shifts in how electoral votes are counted. Stakeholders such as state governments, major political parties, and voters would all experience distinct impacts from this legislative change.