Election Mail Act

Election Mail Act

This bill addresses the delivery and processing of election mail for federal elections, including by establishing certain standards for mail-in ballots.

Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to

• ensure (to the maximum extent practicable) same-day processing of mail-in ballots,
• postmark each ballot,
• carry election mail (e.g., voter registration applications and mail-in ballots) as first-class mail that is free of postage,
• appoint an election mail coordinator at each area office and district office, and
• consult annually with Indian tribes regarding barriers to voting for eligible voters living on Indian lands.

The bill prohibits the USPS, within 120 days of a federal election, from making any operational change that would restrict the prompt and reliable delivery of election mail.

Each state and jurisdiction must provide with each mail-in ballot a return envelope with an intelligent mail barcode. This requirement does not apply to a state or jurisdiction that uses an alternative system that enables voters to track the ballot through the mail.

The bill requires election officials to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by election day and arrive within seven days after the election.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov