The Electoral Count Act and Its Historical Context

The Electoral Count Act, established in 1887, arose from the contentious presidential election of 1876, during which multiple states submitted conflicting electors' slates to Congress. This election highlighted the need for a systematic approach to handling electoral disputes to prevent confusion and potential conflict. The Act aims to keep election controversies at the state level, encouraging states to establish swift recount procedures to resolve electoral disputes before Congress has to intervene. As a result, the Act emphasizes state authority and aims to minimize Congress's role in electoral disputes, which was a significant concern following the divisive elections of the post-Civil War era.