Dropbox Access Act

Secure absentee drop boxes for voters

This bill would require drop boxes for voted absentee ballots in every county for Federal elections. States would have to provide secure, clearly labeled, in-person boxes. Boxes would be available from 45 days before the election until polls close in the county. Counties with 20,000 or more registered voters would need at least the number of boxes equal to the county's registered voters divided by 20,000, rounded to the nearest whole number; other counties would need at least one box. The voter count would be measured 90 days before the election. Drop boxes would have to be accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English, and the Attorney General could set accessibility criteria. If a box is on or inside a polling place, the polling place's accessibility rules could not be waived. States and counties would have to place boxes without discrimination, try to ensure public-transport access and coverage in rural areas, and consult Tribal leaders before siting boxes on Tribal lands while considering mail, travel, road, and transport conditions. Each drop box would need a posted notice explaining what absentee ballots must meet to be counted. The rules would start with the regularly scheduled general Federal election in November 2026 and each later Federal election. The bill would also add the new drop-box section to HAVA's enforcement cross-reference, making these rules subject to HAVA enforcement. The text does not create a new federal funding stream for the boxes.