Vote by Mail Tracking Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new chapter to Title 39 called "Election Mail." It requires any government entity that furnishes a ballot envelope to mail to include: a Postal Service barcode (or similar marking) that enables tracking of each individual ballot under USPS rules; envelope design features the Postal Service may require; requirements so the envelope is machineable; and the Official Election Mail logo (or a successor label). The Postal Service may set the specific tracking parameters and design rules by regulation. The bill exempts the Federal write-in absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The Postmaster General must provide each covered entity the information needed to comply, including how to access Postal Service tools, by June 1 of each year. The rules apply to federal elections occurring in 2026 and later.

What it means for you#

  • If a government office sends a mail-in ballot envelope, that envelope would include a USPS barcode or similar marking that can be used to track that individual ballot according to Postal Service rules.
  • Election officials and local offices that prepare mailed ballots would need to follow Postal Service guidance for envelope design and machineability and use Postal Service tools for barcodes.
  • The Postmaster General will give covered entities yearly information about how to comply.
  • The one listed exception is the Federal write-in absentee ballot under the UOCAVA statute.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, savings, or budgetary effects is included in the bill text or metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' statements or detailed arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' statements or detailed arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.