To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for election administration in States that permit ballot harvesting.
Sponsored By: Representative Edwards
Introduced
Summary
Blocks federal election funding unless states ban third-party ballot collection. The bill conditions Help America Vote Act funds on state laws that prohibit knowingly collecting and transmitting a mailed ballot on behalf of another person, while carving out narrow exceptions for election officials, postal or commercial carriers, family members, household members, and caregivers.
Show full summary
- States: States that allow third-party ballot collection would lose federal funds for administering federal elections unless they have a law banning the practice.
- Voters and election security: The bill cites reports of nonvoters depositing large numbers of absentee ballots and frames the change as a way to reduce chain-of-custody vulnerabilities and curb home-based electioneering and undue influence.
- Families and caregivers: Family members, household members, and caregivers are explicitly allowed to collect and transmit a ballot for someone they care for.
- Election workers and carriers: Election officials and U.S. Postal Service or other common carrier employees remain exempt when acting in their official duties.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits on third-party ballot collection
This bill would withhold federal Help America Vote Act funds from any State unless the State bans knowingly collecting and delivering a mailed federal ballot for another person. A State could keep HAVA money only if its law bans third-party collection, with four exceptions: election officials doing official duties; USPS or other carriers acting as authorized; other people otherwise authorized to handle U.S. mail while on duty; and a family member, household member, or caregiver of the voter. The bill would define family member, household member (someone who lives with the voter), and caregiver (someone who provides medical or health care in a residence or care facility). The condition would apply notwithstanding other law and would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Edwards
NC • R
Cosponsors
Onder
MO • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Bentz
OR • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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