Restoring Faith in Elections Act
Restoring Faith in Elections Act
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of HR 160: Restoring Faith in Elections Act **What the bill would do:** If passed, this bill would establish new federal standards for voting in U.S. elections, with a focus on mail-in voting procedures. Key requirements include: mail-in ballots must arrive by the time polls close on election day, states must count all eligible ballots within 24 hours after an election, and the bill would create automatic voter registration systems. The bill also makes "ballot harvesting" (possessing or returning someone else's completed ballot) a federal crime punishable by fines or up to one year in prison, with limited exceptions. **Who it affects:** This legislation would affect voters, election officials at state and local levels, and the general voting process nationwide.
It would also impact the Election Assistance Commission, which oversees election standards. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House. It was introduced by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in the 119th Congress. **Note:** Election procedures are typically managed by states, so this federal legislation would require states to comply with these new standards for federal elections.
CRS Official Summary
Restoring Faith in Elections ActThis bill establishes certain standards for voting, including voting by mail, in federal elections. It also establishes certain requirements for voter registration and maintenance of official lists of eligible voters.First, the bill establishes certain requirements for voting by mail in federal elections, including by requiring mail-in ballots to be received by the time the polls close on election day.Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful to possess or return a mail-in ballot completed by another person (commonly referred to as ballot harvesting), with exceptions. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both.Further, the bill establishes certain requirements for reporting results of federal elections, including by requiring states to count all eligible ballots within 24 hours after the election.Next, the bill provides for the automatic registration of eligible voters. The Election Assistance Commission must make grants to states to implement these automatic voter registration programs.It also requires states and jurisdictions to use standards that apply equally to all methods of voting used in federal elections, including standards related to signature verification.Finally, the bill establishes the National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse to serve as a database and clearinghouse for voter registration records and lists of eligible voters. Additionally, each state must certify that it has removed ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters prior to the federal election.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.