IIB
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5658
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 19, 2024
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
AN ACT
To amend title 39, United States Code, to require mail-in ballots to use the Postal Service barcode service, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Vote by Mail Tracking Act
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Mail-in ballots and Postal Service barcode service
In general
Title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 30 the following new chapter:
Election Mail
Sec.
3101. Trackable election mail.
Trackable election mail
In general
No entity of government shall furnish a ballot envelope for the purpose of being carried or delivered by mail unless such envelope—
contains a Postal Service barcode (or successive service or marking) that enables tracking of each individual ballot consistent with parameters that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation;
satisfies requirements for ballot envelope design that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation;
satisfies requirements for machineable letters that the Postal Service may promulgate by regulation; and
includes the Official Election Mail Logo (or any successor label that the Postal Service may establish for ballots).
Application
Subsection (a) does not apply to a Federal write-in absentee ballot under section 103 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20303).
Information
Not later than June 1 of each calendar year, the Postmaster General shall provide, to the entities described in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (a), the information necessary to comply with the requirements of this subsection, including how to access Postal Service tools to assist in generating the barcode or successive marking required by subsection (a)(1).
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Clerical amendment
The table of chapters for part IV of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 30 the following:
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Application
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any election for Federal office occurring in 2026 and any succeeding year.
Passed the House of Representatives November 18, 2024.
Kevin F. McCumber,
Clerk.