H.R. 9812 – Protecting Mail-In Voting Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 25, 2026 at 4:42 AM UTC

The Protecting Mail‑In Voting Act of 2026 stops the Postal Service from altering its rules on how mail‑in and absentee ballots are handled for a limited period. It keeps the current mailing standards in place, preventing new requirements that could affect the delivery of ballots. The bill mainly impacts the USPS, voters who use mail‑in ballots, and election officials who rely on timely ballot delivery.

Key Provisions

Forbids the U.S. Postal Service from issuing any new regulation between the bill’s enactment and Jan. 3, 2027 that changes how the existing mailing standards for ballot mail work.
Any such new rule that adds requirements for senders or recipients of mail‑in or absentee ballots is treated as having no legal effect.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

July 21, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 21, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

July 21, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 21, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9812

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 21, 2026

Mr. Moulton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To prohibit certain modifications to United States Postal Service regulations related to the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for elections, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Mail-In Voting Act of 2026.

2.

USPS Regulations related to ballot mail

Any regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 3, 2027, by the United States Postal Service under section 401 of title 39, United States Code, or any other provision of law, that modifies the effect, scope, or applicability of the provisions in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, in effect on the date of the enactment of this section, with respect to Ballot Mail, as such term is used in such provisions, including by imposing an additional requirement on a sender or recipient of Ballot Mail, shall have no force or effect.