Mail Ballot Integrity Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7874

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-09: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2026-04-22T08:07:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Mail Ballot Integrity Act" (H.R. 7874) aims to prevent states from sending unsolicited mail-in ballots for federal elections and to restrict mail-in voting to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria, ensuring that ballots are only provided upon verified request.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Unsolicited Ballots: States and their political subdivisions (local governments) cannot send, distribute, or provide mail-in ballots for federal elections to any individual unless that person explicitly requests one.
• Request and Eligibility Requirements: To receive a mail-in ballot, an individual must submit a written or electronic request affirming, under penalty of perjury (a legal promise that lying could lead to criminal charges), that they meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
• Active-duty military members (as defined in U.S. law), their spouses, or dependents.
• Students, instructors, or professors living outside their voting county due to attending a higher education institution outside that county, along with accompanying spouses or dependents.
• Clergy members assigned outside their voting county, along with accompanying spouses or dependents.
• Individuals temporarily absent from their voting county during early voting and on election day.
• Voters who moved more than 100 miles to another county after voter registration closed.
• Individuals involuntarily confined for mental health treatment outside their voting county, provided they are not legally declared incompetent.
• U.S. residents living abroad.
• Those expected to be hospitalized on election day without prior knowledge, or hospitalized/restricted to bed during early voting.
• Participants in a former state program for voters with disabilities (if the state had such a program).
• Non-felony incarcerated individuals, whether inside or outside their voting county.
• Participants in a state address confidentiality program (which protects voters' addresses for safety reasons).
• Individuals with disabilities who provide documentation, such as a mobility impairment card, proof of disability benefits (e.g., Social Security or veterans' benefits), or a physician's certification.
• Voters aged 65 or older.
• Maintenance of Voter Lists: States may keep lists of previous mail-in voters for federal elections, but only for those who continue to qualify under the eligibility criteria, as determined by state law.
• Effective Date: The rules apply to federal elections held on or after the date the Act is enacted into law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This Act overrides broader state practices by banning unsolicited or automatic mail-in ballots, which some states currently offer to all registered voters to expand access.
• It narrows mail-in voting eligibility from potentially universal or excuse-free options in certain states to a defined list of qualifying reasons, requiring affirmative requests and perjury affirmations for the first time at the federal level.
• It limits permanent or automatic mail-in voter lists to only ongoing qualifiers, preventing indefinite enrollment without re-verification.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State and local election officials would need to update systems to verify requests and eligibility, potentially increasing administrative costs and workload, while reducing the volume of unsolicited ballots mailed.
• On Citizens: Eligible voters (e.g., military personnel, elderly, or disabled individuals) would retain mail-in access, but others without qualifying reasons might face barriers to voting by mail, possibly requiring in-person voting and affecting turnout among groups like working adults or those without transportation.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly affect U.S. citizens abroad by ensuring their eligibility for mail-in ballots under the "resides outside the United States" criterion.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States and Local Governments: Responsible for implementing and enforcing the restrictions, including processing requests and maintaining compliant voter lists.
• Voters: Particularly those who rely on mail-in voting, such as military families, seniors, people with disabilities, and overseas residents (who benefit) versus non-qualifying voters (who may lose easy access).
• Election Administrators and Advocacy Groups: Officials must adapt procedures; groups focused on voting rights or election security may support or oppose based on access versus integrity concerns.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The Act could invite lawsuits under federal voting laws, such as the Voting Rights Act (which protects against discriminatory voting practices) or the Help America Vote Act, if restrictions are seen as unduly burdening certain voters. The perjury affirmation adds a fraud-deterrence mechanism but may raise questions about enforcement.
• Constitutional Implications: Potential challenges under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment if the eligibility criteria are viewed as unequally restricting voting rights, or under the Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4) regarding federal oversight of state election procedures.
• Political Implications: The bill reflects debates on election integrity (aiming to curb potential fraud from unsolicited ballots) versus voter access, likely sparking partisan divides; introduced by Republican representatives, it could influence future election reforms if passed.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-09: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2026-03-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Mail Ballot Integrity Act — issued 2026-03-09 — PDF (5 pages)