Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 738

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-24: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2026-06-19T08:06:00Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025 aims to ensure that all eligible voters in the United States can vote by mail in federal elections without needing to provide excuses or meet extra state-specific requirements, promoting equal access to voting and addressing barriers like work or family commitments.

Key Provisions

• Universal Mail Voting Access: States cannot add any conditions or requirements for eligible voters to request or cast mail-in ballots for federal elections, beyond setting deadlines for requesting ballots and materials and for returning completed ballots.
• Cure Period for Ballot Issues:
• If a mail-in or absentee ballot has a signature mismatch, election officials must notify the voter (via mail, phone, text, or email) within one business day and give them up to three days after the state's ballot receipt deadline to fix it (e.g., by providing matching information in person, by phone, or electronically).
• For missing signatures or other fixable defects (not including missed deadlines), officials must similarly notify the voter and allow the three-day cure period; the ballot is counted if cured.
• Preservation of In-Person Voting: The law does not limit states' ability to offer polling places for in-person voting on Election Day.
• Effective Date: Applies to federal elections starting in 2026.
• Enforcement: Adds this provision to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), making it enforceable under existing federal election laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends HAVA (a 2002 federal law setting minimum standards for election administration) by inserting a new Section 303A, which overrides state laws that restrict mail voting to specific excuses (e.g., illness, travel, or religious reasons).
• Eliminates requirements like notary signatures or revealing personal information for mail ballots, which some states currently impose.
• Introduces a mandatory "cure" process for common ballot rejection reasons, standardizing voter protections nationwide—previously, such processes varied by state or were absent.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Expands voting options, potentially increasing participation by making it easier for those with scheduling conflicts to vote; reduces privacy invasions from excuse requirements and cuts costs/inconveniences like notarization.
• On Government Agencies: State and local election officials must update processes to handle universal mail voting requests, notifications, and cures, which could increase administrative workload and costs (e.g., for outreach via multiple contact methods) but may shorten in-person poll lines.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic election reform.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Voters: All eligible U.S. citizens, especially those in states without "no-excuse" absentee voting (about 14 states as of the bill's findings), who gain easier access.
• State and Local Election Officials: Responsible for implementing changes, including ballot distribution, verification, and cure notifications.
• Federal Government: Congress and the Election Assistance Commission (under HAVA) gain oversight to enforce compliance.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on voting rights (e.g., for equity and accessibility) and election integrity, who may support or oppose based on fraud concerns.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal authority over state election practices under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 4), which allows Congress to regulate federal elections; could lead to lawsuits from states arguing it infringes on their traditional control over voting methods.
• Constitutional: Aligns with the right to vote under the 14th and 15th Amendments by reducing barriers, but may face challenges if seen as mandating a specific voting mode without state consent.
• Political: Addresses inequities in current laws (36 states plus D.C. already allow no-excuse absentee voting, with none reversing), potentially boosting turnout but sparking debates on election security, as the bill cites no evidence of higher fraud in mail voting; reflects bipartisan sponsorship but could polarize along partisan lines on voting access vs. integrity.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

Cosponsors (15)

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-24: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2025-01-24: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-24: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-24 — PDF (7 pages)