Restoring Faith in Elections Act

Bill Number: H.R. 160
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-01-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Last Updated: 2025-03-04T15:13:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Restoring Faith in Elections Act (H.R. 160) aims to strengthen election integrity and security while improving Americans' access to voting. It establishes uniform federal standards and procedures for voter registration and voting in elections for federal offices (such as U.S. President, Congress), focusing on mail-in ballots, automatic registration, standardized administration, and accurate voter lists. The goal is to make the process more reliable, efficient, and accessible without partisan bias.

Key Provisions

The bill is organized into four titles, each addressing specific aspects of election processes.

Title I: Federal Standards for Mail-in Ballots (Verifiable, Orderly, and Timely Election Results Act)

Requesting Ballots: Voters can request mail-in ballots electronically or by mail using a standardized form, up to 21 days before the election. Requests must verify identity, registration status, and residency. Ballots must be mailed within 3 days of a valid request.
Ballot Validity: To count, mail-in ballots must be marked in blue or black ink, signed with the voter's registration signature, dated, received by poll closing time, and include a signed attestation confirming eligibility and intent to vote only by mail.
In-Person Options: Voters can return mail-in ballots in person or switch to in-person voting by surrendering the unused ballot; otherwise, they use a provisional ballot (a temporary ballot verified later).
Possession Rules: Only the voter, immediate family (up to two ballots), or caregivers (up to two) can handle completed ballots. Violations are punishable by fine or up to 1 year in prison. Postal workers and officials are exempt for job duties.
Reporting Results: States must count pre-election mail-in ballots starting at least one week before Election Day, report partial counts 1 hour after polls close, and finalize all counts within 24 hours.

Title II: Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2025

System Setup: States must create an automatic registration system where eligible individuals (U.S. citizens 18+ by Election Day) are registered unless they opt out. Applies to new and existing records from "contributing agencies" (e.g., DMV, Social Security Administration, healthcare programs, schools, firearm agencies).
Process: Agencies inform applicants of registration (voluntary, no impact on services), collect consent for opt-out, and transmit data (name, birth date, address, citizenship proof) after 30 days if no decline. States notify individuals of status and allow corrections.
One-Time Check: Agencies transmit existing records for unregistered eligible voters, with opt-out notices sent within 45 days.
Protections and Security: No penalties for errors (e.g., accidental registration of non-citizens); data can't be used against individuals in immigration or law enforcement (except knowing fraud). Strict privacy rules limit disclosure of sensitive info (e.g., Social Security numbers, signatures). NIST sets uniform data-matching standards.
Funding and Exemptions: Grants up to $500 million in FY2025 for implementation; exempts states with existing automatic systems (e.g., via DMV) but requires enhancements. Effective January 1, 2027 (waivable to 2029).
Accessibility: Services must accommodate disabilities; notices can be electronic with consent.

Title III: Promoting Standardized Administration of Elections

Parity in Voting Methods: States must treat all voting methods (in-person, mail-in, early) equally, including uniform signature verification and cost subsidies (except for disability accommodations or military/overseas voting).
Uniform State Procedures: All jurisdictions within a state must use the same rules for election administration, including provisional ballots (temporary votes for eligibility disputes) and their acceptance/rejection criteria. Effective for the November 2026 general election onward.

Title IV: Promoting Accuracy of Voter Registration Lists

National Database: Creates a National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to help states verify single-state registration, remove deceased voters, and ensure only U.S. citizens vote.
Pre-Election Maintenance: States must certify 90 days before federal elections that ineligible voters (e.g., non-residents, deceased) are removed and submit lists to CISA. USPS and Social Security provide change-of-address and death data 180 days prior.
Driver's License Updates: New applicants must attest under penalty of perjury if they reside (or intend to register) in another state, triggering notifications to update or cancel out-of-state registrations. Effective for 2025 elections.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amendments to Help America Vote Act (2002): Adds sections on mail-in standards, result reporting, voting method parity, and uniform state procedures. Expands enforcement to cover new rules.
Amendments to National Voter Registration Act (1993): Mandates automatic registration via expanded agencies (including federal ones like VA and DHS for naturalized citizens); requires pre-election certifications and data sharing from USPS/SSA; updates driver's license forms for residency attestation.
New Entities and Standards: Establishes CISA database; requires NIST privacy/security guidelines; introduces federal opt-out notices and one-time record sweeps, overriding some state variations.
Exemptions and Relations: Preserves state laws on voter qualifications; doesn't supersede Voting Rights Act, military voting laws, or existing NVRA/HAVA requirements.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: State/local election officials face new duties for systems, certifications, and data management, with grants to offset costs but penalties (e.g., lost funding) for non-compliance. Federal agencies (CISA, SSA, USPS, NIST, EAC) gain roles in oversight, data sharing, and standards. Contributing agencies (e.g., DMV, schools) must integrate voter prompts, potentially increasing administrative workload.
Citizens: Eligible voters (especially young, disabled, minorities, or those interacting with government services) gain easier registration and portability (e.g., same-day updates at polls), potentially boosting turnout. Mail-in voters benefit from clearer rules but stricter deadlines/validity checks. Non-citizens or movers protected from accidental registration penalties, but fraud risks heightened with penalties.
International Relations: No direct impacts; focuses on domestic federal elections.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Voters: All eligible U.S. citizens, particularly underrepresented groups (e.g., youth, minorities, disabled) who may see improved access, and frequent movers who benefit from residency checks.
Election Officials: State chiefs and local administrators responsible for implementation, uniformity, and reporting.
Contributing Agencies: State/federal entities (e.g., DMV, SSA, healthcare, education, firearm regulators) handling data transmission.
Political Entities: Parties and campaigns, as standardized processes could affect turnout and result timelines.
Oversight Bodies: EAC (grants/enforcement), CISA (database), NIST (standards).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Introduces enforceable federal minimums on state processes, potentially leading to lawsuits over implementation (e.g., privacy breaches or opt-out adequacy). Builds on NVRA/HAVA without overriding core state authority on qualifications, but uniform standards may standardize provisional ballot handling nationwide.
Constitutional: Supports equal protection (14th Amendment) and voting rights (15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments) by enhancing access and integrity; residency rules align with domicile requirements for voting eligibility. Automatic registration could face challenges if seen as federal overreach into state election powers (10th Amendment), though grants incentivize compliance.
Political: Seeks to rebuild public trust in elections by addressing fraud concerns (e.g., ballot possession limits) and access barriers, but may spark debate on federal vs. state control. Exemptions for existing systems allow flexibility, while timelines (e.g., 2027 effective date) provide preparation but pressure for quick adoption.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

2025-01-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
2025-01-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
2025-01-03: Introduced in House
2025-01-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Restoring Faith in Elections Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (48 pages)