House, Senate GOP propose bills to penalize states that bar Trump from 2024 ballot

House Republicans have proposed a bill to punish states that remove Republican frontrunner Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot. Under their plan, states that do this, such as Maine and Colorado, will not have their electoral votes counted when the votes are certified.

"New law," wrote Rep. Clay Higgins, "If any state in our Union blocks the official nominee of a major political party from the Presidential ballot, their electoral slate will not be counted by Congress on the following January 6th. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

The bill would amend US Code title 3 "to include under the Electoral Count Act of 1887 that the vote of an elector of a State shall not be counted if, with respect to the election for President, the State did not include on the ballot in the State a candidate for President who was nominated by a major political party, and for other purposes."

Maine Senator Susan Collins said "Maine voters should decide who wins the election – not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature. The Secretary of State’s decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned."

Senator Thom Tillis jumped in, saying that he would propose legislation as well. "Maine’s Democrat Secretary of State just removed Trump from the ballot. This is an egregious abuse of power and why I will be introducing the Constitutional Election Integrity Act as soon as Congress returns to session to stop these partisan officials and ensure any constitutional challenge is only decided by the U.S. Supreme Court."

This comes as a Colorado court ruled to remove Trump from the ballot, though he will remain there pending appeal, and Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows unilaterally removed him from the ballot. In both cases, officials or judges determined that Trump had committed insurrection in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. They did this without due process.