No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act
House Bill Would Strip Election Funds From States That Allow Ballot Harvesting
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for election administration in States that permit ballot harvesting.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would stop the federal government from giving money for elections to states that allow "ballot harvesting." This is the practice of having third parties collect and turn in mail-in ballots for other voters.
- To keep receiving federal money, states would have to pass laws that only allow certain people to handle someone else's ballot. These people include family members, housemates, caregivers, postal workers, or election officials.
- The goal of the policy is to make sure ballots are handled safely. Supporters argue that letting strangers collect ballots creates risks and could allow bad actors to unfairly influence how people vote in their own homes.
- If this becomes law, any state that still allows outside groups or individuals to collect ballots would have to pay for the full cost of running federal elections without any help from the national government.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Many tribal communities are in remote areas far from post offices and polling places, and community ballot collection is a critical way tribal members participate in elections. If states ban third-party collection to keep federal funding, tribal voters who lack reliable mail service or transportation could face serious barriers to casting their ballots. The bill's exceptions for family and caregivers don't address the geographic isolation that makes organized ballot collection necessary on reservations.
Disabilities
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for election administration in States that permit ballot harvesting.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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