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118th Congress Government Operations and Politics

H.R. 2987: Election Mail Act

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Apr 27, 2023
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Apr 27, 2023

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.
Read the full summary

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 Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

81

Who scored on this bill

12 points earned
  1. 1Nikema Williams D-GA SponsorIntroduced, reached a cosponsor milestone3 events+12
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Nikema Williams

History

  1. Apr 27, 2023Introduced in the House by Nikema Williams.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Apr 27, 2023Introduced in House
  2. Apr 27, 2023Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.