Restoring Faith in Elections Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick
Introduced
Summary
Federal standards for mail-in voting and automatic voter registration. This bill would set national rules for how mail-in ballots are requested, returned, verified, and reported, and would require states to adopt automatic voter registration tied to government agency records.
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- Voters: The bill would require mail-in ballots to be received by the close of polls and meet simple validity rules like blue or black ink, a matching signature, a date, and an attestation. It would make it unlawful to possess or return a completed ballot for another person except narrow family and caregiver exceptions and would create criminal penalties up to 1 year in prison.
- States and election officials: The bill would force states to accept automatic registration data from agencies such as motor vehicle offices, Social Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and others, with set timelines and notice windows for registering or declining. It would also require states to certify removal of ineligible voters 90 days before federal elections, create a National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and set security and data standards under the National Institute of Standards and Technology while providing federal grants to help implementation.
*Would authorize an initial $500 million in grants to help states implement automatic voter registration.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Automatic voter sign-up with protections
If enacted, you could be automatically registered to vote when state agencies have your information. You would get a written notice and 30 days to say no. If you do not opt out, the state would register you within 45 days and send a notice within 15 days after new data is sent. States could start this for people at least 16, and you could update your info at the polls. You could not be prosecuted or face immigration harm just because you were automatically registered or declined to register. Knowingly lying to trigger registration or knowingly voting illegally would still be a crime. These changes could start as soon as January 1, 2027, with possible waivers to 2029.
Privacy rules and funding for voter records
If enacted, the Election Assistance Commission would give states grants to build automatic registration systems. The bill authorizes $500 million for 2025 and more as needed, and the money would not expire. NIST would set national matching, privacy, and security standards after public comment. States would have to publish their rules and certify each year they comply, or they would lose these payments for the next year. States could provisionally certify for up to two years if they need new state laws. Election offices could not disclose your agency source, signatures, any part of your Social Security or driver’s license number, phone, or email, and must keep public logs of voter-record changes for two years. People and groups could sue to enforce these rules. States that already run motor‑vehicle automatic registration would be exempt from most new steps, but some rules on portability, payments, and enforcement would still apply.
National database to clean voter rolls
If enacted, a federal clearinghouse at CISA would hold certified voter lists to help states prevent duplicates and remove the deceased. States would send certified lists 90 days before each federal election. The Postal Service and Social Security would send address changes and death data 180 days before each regular general election. These pre‑election transfers would start with the November 2026 general election. The system would also help states verify U.S. citizenship for federal elections.
Equal treatment across voting methods
If enacted, states would have to use the same standards for all voting methods in federal elections, including signature checks. A state could not prepay or subsidize one method unless it also did the same for other methods. This would not block payments that help disabled voters or military and overseas voters. The rule would start with the November 2026 general election.
New deadlines and rules for mail ballots
If enacted, you would need to request a mail ballot at least 21 days before the election. Officials would mail your ballot within 3 days of getting your request. Your ballot must be signed, dated, in blue or black ink, received by polls close, and include an attestation. You could return it in person, and if you show up to vote without it, you would use a provisional ballot. Election offices would track and report ballots; counting could start one week before election day and all results would be reported within 24 hours after voting ends. It would be illegal to possess or return someone else’s completed ballot, except that an immediate family member or a caregiver could return up to two. Postal workers and election officials could handle ballots while doing their jobs. Violations could bring a fine, up to one year in jail, or both.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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