The Restoring American Confidence in Elections Act (RACE Act) would tighten the timeline for federal elections by amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002. It would require states to finish counting ballots for federal offices by 10:00 p.m. on Election Day and to certify the election results within 48 hours after Election Day. There are stated exceptions for bona fide emergencies (including major disasters) or technical difficulties (like malfunctioning equipment). The bill also makes a few clerical and structural changes to align with amendments from the COCOA Act of 2024. It would apply to elections held after the act’s enactment. In short, the bill aims to speed up the formal result of federal elections and to create a standardized deadline across states, with limited allowances for emergencies or technical problems.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a universal deadline to finish counting ballots for federal elections: not later than 10:00 p.m. local time on Election Day.
- 2Establishes a universal deadline to certify federal election results: not later than 48 hours after Election Day.
- 3Allows exceptions for bona fide emergencies (including major disasters) or technical difficulties (e.g., malfunctioning election equipment or software).
- 4Makes conforming and clerical adjustments to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), including renumbering sections and inserting a new Section 305, with cross-references updated to reflect COCOA Act of 2024 amendments.
- 5Applies to elections held after the act’s enactment (i.e., prospective application).