H.R. 4523House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Ballot Security Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 9:42 AM UTC

The bill amends the Help America Vote Act to set new rules for using ballot drop boxes in District of Columbia elections. It aims to increase security and oversight of absentee and mail‑in voting in the District. The changes apply to any public‑office election, federal election, or ballot initiative held in D.C., and affect the D.C. Board of Elections and voters using drop boxes.

Key Provisions

Drop boxes may only be placed inside a D.C. government building or facility.
Each drop box must be monitored with 24‑hour remote or electronic surveillance.
The D.C. Board of Elections must collect ballots from any drop box each day after 5:00 p.m. local time during the election period.
The term “District of Columbia election” is defined to include all public‑office, federal, and ballot‑initiative elections in D.C.
The amendment updates related enforcement sections of the Help America Vote Act to include the new drop‑box requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

July 10, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 10, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

July 10, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 10, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4523

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2023

Mr. Moran introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish certain requirements with respect to use of drop boxes for a District of Columbia election, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Ballot Security Act.

Requirements for use of drop boxes with respect to District of Columbia elections

(a)

Requirements

Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after section 303 the following new section:

304.

Requirements with respect to use of drop boxes for a District of Columbia election

(a)

Requirements

With respect to a District of Columbia election, the District of Columbia may not use a drop box to accept a voted absentee or other mail-in ballot for any such election unless—

(1)

any such drop box is located inside a District of Columbia government building or facility;

(2)

the District of Columbia provides for the security of any such drop box through 24-hour remote or electronic surveillance; and

(3)

the District of Columbia Board of Elections collects any ballot deposited in any such drop box each day after 5:00 p.m. (local time) during the period of the election.

(b)

District of Columbia election defined

In this section, the term District of Columbia election means any election for public office in the District of Columbia, including an election for Federal office, and any ballot initiative or referendum.

(b)

Conforming amendment relating to enforcement

Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking and 303 and inserting 303, and 304.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents of such Act is amended—

(1)

by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 305 and 306, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new item:

Sec. 304. Requirements with respect to use of drop boxes for a District of Columbia election.