{"bill":{"id":"119-hr-4915","congress":119,"type":"HR","number":4915,"title":"Election Mail Act","originChamber":"House","introducedDate":"2025-08-05","sponsors":[{"bioguideId":"W000788","fullName":"Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]","party":"D","state":"GA","district":5}],"cosponsorsCount":52,"latestAction":{"actionDate":"2025-08-05","text":"Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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."},"policyArea":"Government Operations and Politics","subjects":[],"actions":[{"date":"2025-08-05","text":"Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-08-05","text":"Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-08-05","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-08-05","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false}],"summary":"<p><strong>Election Mail Act</strong></p><p>This bill addresses the delivery and processing of election mail for federal elections, including by establishing certain standards for mail-in ballots.</p><p>Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to</p><ul><li>ensure (to the maximum extent practicable) same-day processing of mail-in ballots,</li><li>postmark each ballot,</li><li>carry election mail (e.g., voter registration applications and mail-in ballots) as first-class mail that is free of postage,</li><li>appoint an election mail coordinator at each area office and district office, and</li><li>consult annually with Indian tribes regarding barriers to voting for eligible voters living on Indian lands.</li></ul><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>The bill requires election officials to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by election day and arrive within seven days after the election.</p>","updateDate":"2026-04-01T01:13:18Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":270,"ts":"2026-04-19T08:23:54.907Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"/api/public/query-gov?q=Election%20Mail%20Act"}]}}