,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #ddhg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #bc1 #bjbb,ms4   
,klobu*> introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,rules & ,adm9i/ration  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
am5d title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & !
 ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb to    
improve proc$ures & requirem5ts relat$  
to election mail4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,election ,mail    
,act4  #b4 ,same-day process+ ( abs5tee 
ballots  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #cd ( title
 #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #cdjg4         
,same-day process+ ( ballots  7a7 ,9    
g5]al ,! ,po/al ,s]vice %all ensure1 to 
! maximum ext5t practicable1 t any      
ballot c>ri$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice is     
process$ by & cle>$ f any po/al facility
 or po/ (fice on ! same day t ! ballot  
is receiv$ by t facility or po/ (fice4  
7b7 ,def9itions ,z us$ 9 ?is section--  
7#a7 ! t]m ballot means any ballot      
transmitt$ by a vot] by mail 9 an       

election = ,f$]al (fice1 b does n       
include any ballot cov]$ by section     
#cdjf2 &  7#b7 ! t]m election = ,f$]al  
(fice means a g5]al1 special1 prim>y1 or
 run(f election = ! (fice ( ,presid5t or
 ,vice ,presid5t1 or ( ,s5ator or       
,repres5tative 91 or ,delegate or       
,resid5t ,commission] to1 ! ,congress4  
4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5ts  7#a7 ,am5dm5t  
to *apt] head+ ,! head+ = *apt] #cd (   
title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$
 by /rik+ ,arm$ ,=ces & ,free ,po/age & 
ins]t+ ,arm$ ,=ces2 ,free ,po/age2      
,election ,mail4  7#b7 ,table ( *apt]s  
,! table ( *apt]s = "p ,,iv ( title #ci1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ 
! item relat+ to *apt] #cd & ins]t+ !   
foll[+3  #cd4;,arm$ ,=ces2 ,free        
,po/age2 ,election ,mail#cdja  4  7#c7  
,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5t ,! table (   
sections = *apt] #cd ( title #ci1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end
 ! foll[+3  #cdjg4 ,same-day process+ ( 
ballots4  4  7c7 ,effective date ,!     
am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all    

apply to abs5tee ballots relat+ to an   
election = ,f$]al (fice occurr+ on or   
aft] ! date t is #fj days aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #c4 ,intellig5t 
mail b>codes = ballots  7a7 ,9 g5]al    
,title ,,iii ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote    
,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha7 is  
am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ section #caa 
& section #cab z sections #cba & #cbb1  
respectively2  7#b7 by r$esignat+       
subtitle ,b z subtitle ,c2 &  7#c7 by   
ins]t+ aft] subtitle ,a ! foll[+ new    
subtitle3  ,b ,requirem5ts relat+ to    
mail$ ballots  #caa4 ,use ( intellig5t  
mail b>codes  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* ,/ate & 
jurisdiction %all provide ) ea* ballot =
 an election = ,f$]al (fice t is s5t by 
mail a return envelope t conta9s an     
intellig5t mail b>code1 z prescrib$ by !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice4  7b7     
,exception ,subsection 7a7 %all n apply 
to any ballot = :i* a ,/ate or          
jurisdiction uses an alt]native sy/em t 
enables vot]s to track ! ballot ?r\gh ! 
mail4  7c7 ,/ate ,= purposes ( ?is      

section1 ! t]m ,/ate includes ! ,di/rict
 ( ,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to   
,rico1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 & ! ,commonweal? (
 ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4  7d7         
,effective date ,! requirem5ts ( ?is    
section %all apply to elections = ,f$]al
 (fice occurr+ on or aft] ,janu>y #a1   
#bjbc4  4  7b7 ,en=cem5t ,section #dja (
 ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb
 ,u4,s4,c4 #baaaa7 is am5d$ by ins]t+ or
 ! requirem5ts = mail$ ballots "u       
subtitle ,b ( title ,,iii be=e ! p]iod  
at ! end4  7c7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t ,section 
#cba7;a7 ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4      
#baaja71 z r$esignat$ by subsection 7a71
 is am5d$ by /rik+ section #cab & ins]t+
 section #cbb4  7d7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts ,!
 table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act is am5d$--  
7#a7 by /rik+ ,subtitle ,b--,volunt>y & 
ins]t+ ,subtitle ,c--,volunt>y2  7#b7   
r$esignat+ ! items relat+ to sections   
#caa & #cab z relat+ to sections #cba & 
#cbb1 respectively2 &  7#c7 by ins]t+   
aft] ! item relat+ to section #cje !    

foll[+3  ,subtitle ,b--,requirem5ts     
relat+ to mail$ ballots ,sec4 #caa4 ,use
 ( intellig5t mail b>codes4  4  #d4     
,election mail & deliv]y improvem5ts    
7a7 ,po/m>k requir$ = ballots  7#a7 ,9  
g5]al ,*apt] #cd ( title #ci1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by section #b1 is 
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #cdjh4
 ,po/m>k requir$ = ballots  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,9 ! case ( any abs5tee ballot c>ri$ by
 ! ,po/al ,s]vice1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice %all
 indicate on ! ballot envelope1 us+ a   
po/m>k or o!rwise-- 7#a7 ! fact t !     
ballot 0 c>ri$ by ! ,po/al ,s]vice2 &   
7#b7 ! date on :i* ! ballot 0 mail$4    
7b7 ,def9itions ,z us$ 9 ?is section--  
7#a7 ! t]m abs5tee ballot means any     
ballot transmitt$ by a vot] by mail 9 an
 election = ,f$]al (fice1 b does n      
include any ballot cov]$ by section     
#cdjf2 &  7#b7 ! t]m election = ,f$]al  
(fice means a g5]al1 special1 prim>y1 or
 run(f election = ! (fice ( ,presid5t or
 ,vice ,presid5t1 or ( ,s5ator or       
,repres5tative 91 or ,delegate or       

,resid5t ,commission] to1 ! ,congress4  
4  7#b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5t ,!   
table ( sections = *apt] #cd ( title    
#ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by    
section #b7;a71 is am5d$ by add+ at !   
end ! foll[+3  #cdjh4 ,po/m>k requir$ = 
ballots4  4  7#c7 ,effective date ,!    
am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all    
apply to abs5tee ballots relat+ to an   
election = ,f$]al (fice occurr+ on or   
aft] ! date t is #fj days aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7b7 ,great]     
visibility = ballots  7#a7 ,9 g5]al     
,subtitle ,c ( title ,,iii ( ! ,help    
,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb         
,u4,s4,c4 #bajha et seq471 z add$ by    
section #c1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! 
foll[+ new section3  #cab4 ,ballot      
visibility  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* ,/ate or  
local election (ficial %all-- 7#a7 affix
 ,tag #aia1 ,dome/ic & ,int]national    
,mail-,9 ,ballots 7or any successor tag 
designat$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al     
,s]vice71 to any tray or sack ( (ficial 
ballots relat+ to an election = ,f$]al  

(fice t is de/9$ = a dome/ic or         
int]national address2  7#b7 use !       
,(ficial ,election ,mail logo to        
designate (ficial ballots relat+ to an  
election = ,f$]al (fice t is de/9$ = a  
dome/ic or int]national address2 &  7#c7
 if an intellig5t mail b>code 7z        
describ$ 9 section #caa7 is utiliz$ =   
any (ficial ballot relat+ to an election
 = ,f$]al (fice t is de/9$ = a dome/ic  
or int]national address1 ensure !       
specific ballot s]vice type id5tifi] =  
su* mail is visible4  7b7 ,effective    
date ,! requirem5ts ( ?is section %all  
apply to elections = ,f$]al (fice       
occurr+ on & aft] ! date t is #fj days  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section4 
4  7#b7 ,issuance ( volunt>y guidance by
 election assi/ance commission ,section 
#cba7;b7 ( su* ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4      
#baaja7;b771 z r$esignat$ by section #c1
 is am5d$-- 7,a7 by /rik+ & at ! end (  
p>agraph 7#b72  7,b7 by /rik+ ! p]iod at
 ! end ( p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ 2 &2 &  
7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new      

p>agraph3  7#d7 9 ! case ( !            
recomm5dations ) respect to section     
#cab1 ! date describ$ 9 section         
#cab7;b74  4  7#c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!  
table ( cont5ts ( su* ,act1 z am5d$ by  
section #c1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] !   
item relat+ to section #caa ! foll[+ new
 item3  ,sec4 #cab4 ,ballot visibility4 
4  #e4 ,c>riage ( election mail  7a7    
,treatm5t ( election mail  7#a7         
,treatm5t z fir/-class mail2 free po/age
 ,*apt] #cd ( title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code1 z am5d$ by section #b & section  
#c7;a71 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3  #cdji4 ,dome/ic election mail2 
re/riction ( op]ational *anges prior to 
elections  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is       
section3 7#a7 ,election = f$]al (fice ,!
 t]m election = ,f$]al (fice means a    
g5]al1 special1 prim>y1 or run(f        
election = ! (fice ( ,presid5t or ,vice 
,presid5t1 or ( ,s5ator or              
,repres5tative 91 or ,delegate or       
,resid5t ,commission] to1 ! ,congress4  
7#b7 ,election mail ,! t]m election mail

 means-- 7,a7 a blank or complet$ vot]  
regi/ration application =m1 vot]        
regi/ration c>d1 or simil> mat]ials1    
relat+ to an election = ,f$]al (fice2   
7,b7 a blank or complet$ abs5tee & o!r  
mail-9 ballot application =m1 & a blank 
or complet$ abs5tee or o!r mail-9       
ballot1 relat+ to an election = ,f$]al  
(fice1 &  7,c7 o!r mat]ials relat+ to an
 election = ,f$]al (fice t are mail$ by 
a ,/ate or local election (ficial to an 
individual :o is regi/]$ to vote4  7b7  
,c>riage ( election mail ,election mail 
7o!r ?an ballot+ mat]ials cov]$ "u      
section #cdjf 7relat+ to ! ,uni=m$ &    
,ov]seas ,abs5tee ,vot+ ,act771         
individually or 9 bulk1 %all be c>ri$ 9 
accordance ) ! s]vice /&>ds e/abli%$ =  
fir/-class mail "u section #cfia4  7c7  
,no po/age requir$ = complet$ ballots   
,complet$ abs5tee or o!r mail-9 ballots 
7o!r ?an ballot+ mat]ials cov]$ "u      
section #cdjf 7relat+ to ! ,uni=m$ &    
,ov]seas ,abs5tee ,vot+ ,act77 %all be  
c>ri$ free ( po/age4  7d7 ,re/riction ( 

op]ational *anges ,dur+ ! #abj-;day     
p]iod :i* ends on ! date ( an election =
 ,f$]al (fice1 ! ,po/al ,s]vice may n   
c>ry out any new op]ational *ange t w\ld
 re/rict ! prompt & reliable deliv]y (  
election mail4 ,?is subsection applies  
to op]ational *anges :i* include-- 7#a7 
remov+ or elim9at+ any mail collection  
box )\t imm$iately replac+ x2 &  7#b7   
remov+1 decommission+1 or any o!r =m (  
/opp+ ! op]ation ( mail sort+ ma*9es1   
o!r ?an = r\t9e ma9t5ance4  7e7         
,election mail coord9ator ,! ,po/al     
,s]vice %all appo9t an ,election ,mail  
,coord9ator at ea* area (fice & di/rict 
(fice to facilitate relevant in=mation  
%>+ ) ,/ate1 t]ritorial1 local1 &       
,tribal election (ficials 9 reg>ds to ! 
mail+ ( election mail4  4  7#b7         
,reimbursem5t ( ,po/al ,s]vice = rev5ue 
=gone ,section #bdja7;c7 ( title #ci1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+  
sections #cbag & #cdjc ?r\gh #cdjf &    
ins]t+ sections #cbag1 #cdjc ?r\gh      
#cdjf1 & #cdji4  7b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ 

am5dm5t ,! table ( sections = *apt] #cd 
( title #ci1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z     
am5d$ by section #b & section #c7;a71 is
 am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3       
#cdji4 ,dome/ic election mail2          
re/riction ( op]ational *anges prior to 
elections4  4  7c7 ,effective date ,!   
am5dm5ts made by ?is section %all take  
effect ^u ! expiration ( ! #ahj-;day    
p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is section4  #f4 ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al 
,s]vice consultation  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,po/ma/] ,g5]al %all consult ) ,indian  
,tribes1 on an annual basis1 reg>d+     
issues relat+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al 
,s]vice t pres5t b>ri]s to vot+ =       
eligible vot]s liv+ on ,indian l&s4  7b7
 ,def9itions ,= purposes ( ?is section--
 7#a7 ,indian l&s ,! t]m ,indian l&s    
means-- 7,a7 any ,indian c\ntry1 z su*  
t]m is def9$ 9 section #aaea ( title    
#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 ( an ,indian  
,tribe2  7,b7 any l& 9 ,alaska t is     
own$1 pursuant to ! ,alaska ,native     
,claims ,settlem5t ,act1 by an ,indian  

,tribe t is a ,native village 7z su* t]m
 is def9$ 9 section #c ( su* ,act71 or  
by a ,village ,corporation t is         
associat$ ) ! ,indian ,tribe 7z su* t]m 
is def9$ 9 section #c ( su* ,act72  7,c7
 any l& on :i* ! seat ( gov]nm5t ( !    
,indian ,tribe is locat$2 &  7,d7 any l&
 t is "p or all ( a tribal designat$    
/ati/ical area associat$ ) ! ,indian    
,tribe1 or is "p or all ( an ,alaska    
,native village /ati/ical area associat$
 ) ! ,tribe1 z def9$ by ! ,bureau ( !   
,c5sus = ! purposes ( ! mo/ rec5t       
dec5nial c5sus4  7#b7 ,indian ,tribe ,! 
t]m ,indian ,tribe means ! recogniz$    
gov]n+ body ( any ,indian or ,alaska    
,native ,tribe1 b&1 nation1 pueblo1     
village1 community1 compon5t b&1 or     
compon5t res]vation1 individually       
id5tifi$ 7includ+ p>5!tically7 9 ! li/  
publi%$ mo/ rec5tly pursuant to section 
#ajd ( ! ,f$]ally ,recogniz$ ,indian    
,tribe ,li/ ,act ( #aiid 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 
#eaca74  #g4 ,uni=m deadl9e = acceptance
 ( mail$ ballots  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subtitle

 ,c ( title ,,iii ( ! ,help ,am]ica     
,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajha
 et seq471 z add$ by section #c & am5d$ 
by section #d1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end
 ! foll[+ new section3  #cac4 ,uni=m    
deadl9e = acceptance ( mail$ ballots    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,a ,/ate or local election 
(ficial may n refuse to accept or       
process a ballot submitt$ by an         
individual by mail ) respect to an      
election = ,f$]al (fice 9 ! ,/ate on !  
gr\nds t ! individual did n meet a      
deadl9e = return+ ! ballot to !         
appropriate ,/ate or local election     
(ficial if-- 7#a7 ! ballot is po/m>k$ or
 o!rwise indicat$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
,po/al ,s]vice to h be5 mail$ on or be=e
 ! date ( ! election2 &  7#b7 ! ballot  
is receiv$ by ! appropriate election    
(ficial prior to ! expiration ( !       
#g-;day p]iod :i* beg9s on ! date ( !   
election4  7b7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+
 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$ to       
prohibit a ,/ate f hav+ a law t all[s = 
c\nt+ ( ballots 9 an election = ,f$]al  

(fice t are receiv$ ?r\gh ! mail aft] ! 
date t is #g days aft] ! date ( !       
election4  7c7 ,effective date ,?is     
section %all apply ) respect to !       
regul>ly s*$ul$ g5]al election = ,f$]al 
(fice held 9 ,novemb] #bjbb & ea*       
succe$+ election = ,f$]al (fice4  4  7b7
 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( cont5ts (  
su* ,act1 z am5d$ by sections #c & #d1  
is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to
 section #cab ! foll[+ new item3  ,sec4 
#cac4 ,uni=m deadl9e = acceptance (     
mail$ ballots4  4