Make Elections Great Again Act
Sponsored By: Representative Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Introduced
Summary
Nationwide photo-ID requirement for Federal elections. This bill would impose a national in-person photo-ID rule and pair it with stricter registration verification, centralized statewide voter lists, paper-ballot rules, and mail-vote changes.
Show full summary
- Voters: In-person voters would need a valid government photo ID or could cast a provisional ballot and present ID within a three-day cure period. Mail voters would need to submit a copy of ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number plus an affidavit, and universal vote-by-mail would shift to request-only with a 30-day request deadline.
- States and local officials: States would be required to run a single, computerized statewide voter registration list that matches DMV, Social Security Administration, and Department of Homeland Security records. Compliance is set to begin January 1, 2027 with a possible waiver to January 1, 2028 for good cause.
- Oversight, ballots, and enforcement: The Election Assistance Commission would issue uniform forms and guidance, the Attorney General could bring enforcement suits, and private plaintiffs could sue with shortened cure windows and fee-shifting. The bill would require voter-verifiable paper ballots, ban certain voting systems and ranked-choice for Federal general elections, expand post-election record preservation, and require barcode tracking of ballot envelopes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
New federal enforcement and agency rules
If enacted, the Attorney General could sue to enforce the bill's uniform election rules and would certify State agreements to share information about possible fraud before federal election funds can be used (starting in fiscal year 2026). The bill would create a private right of action with notice-and-cure periods (generally 90 days, 20 days if within 120 days of an election, and no notice required within 30 days of an election). The Election Assistance Commission would issue standard forms and guidance and report to Congress; DHS and the Director of National Intelligence must send joint threat reports before each general election. The bill would also exempt voter materials from the Paperwork Reduction Act and bar Federal agencies from using funds to run voter registration or mobilization drives on agency property or websites except where law allows.
Stricter ID and mail voting rules
If enacted, all in-person federal voters would have to show a valid government photo ID to get a ballot, and provisional ballots would only count if the voter shows ID or files a religious‑affidavit within 3 days. States would be barred from sending mail ballots automatically; you would need to request a mail ballot using a standard form no later than 30 days before the election. Mail ballots must arrive by the time polls close to be counted (except absent uniformed services and overseas voters); processing on receipt and barcode tracking would be required, and certain criminal penalties and a four-ballot possession cap would apply to third‑party handling. The bill would also require voter‑verifiable paper ballots and would ban ranked‑choice voting in federal general elections. States could use certain federal HAVA funds to pay for post‑election audits if audit results are released before the legal challenge deadline.
Stricter voter registration and list rules
If enacted, States would have to use one centralized computerized voter list for federal elections by January 1, 2027 (waiver possible to 2028). States would check and update voter rolls at least every 30 days, use DMV, Social Security, and DHS data matches, and remove ineligible registrants (including noncitizens) with removals completed at least 15 days before each general federal election. If you register by mail on or after January 1, 2027, you would need to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship with the application or show it in person by the state's deadline. States would use Postal Service change-of-address data and a nonforwardable return card to verify addresses and remove voters who do not respond, while allowing fixes for people who moved inside the same jurisdiction.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
WI • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
NC • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Gonzales, Tony
TX • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]
CA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Hern (OK)
OK • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Bean (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
MI • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rose
TN • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Allen
GA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Babin
TX • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Fitzgerald
WI • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Ellzey
TX • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]
GA • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Emmer
MN • R
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
MI • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
CO • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Franklin, Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Norman
SC • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Biggs (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Timmons
SC • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]
MO • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Johnson (SD)
SD • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov