HR 4915119th CongressIn Committee

Election Mail Act

Introduced: Aug 5, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-Georgia)

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Election Mail Act would overhaul several federal rules governing how election-related mail is handled by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and how ballots sent by mail are processed, tracked, and counted in federal elections. Key changes include requiring same-day processing of most ballots sent by mail, mandating intelligent mail barcodes on return envelopes, adding postmarks and ballot visibility labeling, ensuring election mail is treated like first-class mail with no postage for completed ballots, and establishing a uniform deadline for accepting mailed ballots (with a 7-day grace period after Election Day). The bill also creates new coordination roles at USPS, requires annual tribal consultation on voting barriers on Indian lands, and expands HAVA-related requirements to cover the new mailed-ballot rules. Several provisions become effective in stages from 60 days after enactment to 180 days after enactment, with some provisions targeting elections beginning in 2026. In short, the bill aims to improve tracking, timeliness, and consistency of election mail across federal elections, while adding federal standards that states and local election officials would need to meet or accommodate.

Key Points

1Same-day processing of ballots (Sec. 3407)
2- USPS must process and clear ballots carried by the Postal Service on the same day they are received at a postal facility, to the maximum extent practicable.
3- Applies to ballots transmitted by voters by mail in federal elections, excluding certain ballots covered by 3406 (e.g., Uniformed and Overseas Civilian voting materials).
4- Effective for absentee ballots in federal elections occurring 60 days after enactment.
5Intelligent Mail Barcodes on ballots (Sec. 311)
6- States/jurisdictions must provide a return envelope with an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) on ballots sent for federal elections, unless they use an alternative trackable system.
7- IMBs are designed to help USPS track ballots through the mail.
8- Effective for elections occurring on or after January 1, 2026; enforcement and conforming changes follow HAVA.
9Postmarks and ballot visibility (Sec. 3408 and Sec. 312)
10- Postmark requirement: USPS must indicate on the ballot envelope that the ballot was carried by USPS and show the mailing date.
11- Ballot visibility: States/local officials must label official ballots with appropriate postal markings (Tag 191) and use the Official Election Mail logo for ballots to be sent domestically or internationally; if IMB is used, the ballot’s service type must be visible.
12- Effective date for these provisions: 60 days after enactment (ballots for federal elections).
13Election Mail treatment and protections (Sec. 3409)
14- Election mail (including registration materials and ballot applications) must be treated under first-class mail service standards.
15- Completed ballots generally are carried without postage (free of postage).
16- During the 120 days before a federal election, USPS cannot make operational changes that would harm prompt/reliable delivery of election mail (e.g., removing mailboxes or decommissioning sorting machines, except for routine maintenance).
17- An Election Mail Coordinator must be appointed at USPS area and district offices to coordinate with state/local election officials.
18- Reimbursement: Revisions to federal law require recognizing revenue forgone for certain election-mail-related activities (adds 3409 to the list of sections for reimbursement).
19- Effective 180 days after enactment.
20Uniform deadline for acceptance of mailed ballots (Sec. 313)
21- States/local officials may not refuse a mailed ballot simply because it arrived after a certain date, if:
22- The ballot is postmarked/indicated as mailed by Election Day, and
23- It is received within 7 days after Election Day.
24- States may adopt or continue laws that count ballots received after Election Day (within that 7-day window), but cannot block ballots that meet the above criteria.
25- Applies to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026 and future elections.
26- Clerk/tables: adds this new section to the HAVA framework.
27Tribal consultation (Sec. 6)
28- USPS must annually consult with Indian Tribes about barriers to voting on Indian lands.
29- Defines “Indian lands” and “Indian Tribe” for purposes of this consultation.
30Administrative and labeling changes
31- Several conforming and clerical amendments to align the U.S. Code and HAVA with these new provisions, including renumbering and table-of-contents updates.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area- Voters who cast ballots by mail in federal elections, particularly those relying on mail-in or absentee ballots.- State and local election officials who administer federal elections and must implement new labeling, barcode, postmark, and acceptance rules.- The U.S. Postal Service, which would implement same-day processing, barcode tracking, and operational safeguards near elections.Secondary affected group/area- Tribal communities and voters on Indian lands, due to annual USPS tribal consultation and potential improvements in access to voting materials.Additional impacts- Costs and implementation burden on USPS and state/local election offices to adopt intelligent mail barcodes, labeling requirements, and new workflow standards.- Potential changes in how states align federal deadlines with state election laws, including the 7-day acceptance window after Election Day.- Possible privacy and security considerations related to ballot tracking and visibility labels.- Interplay with existing UOCAVA processes (military/overseas ballots), since some provisions explicitly exclude 3406 materials from certain requirements.- Possible effects on election logistics and vendor systems that handle ballot mailing/tracking, including the need for coordination through the new Election Mail Coordinator role.

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