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Title 52, Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-110

§20986 Study and Report on Free Absentee Ballot Postage

Title 52 › Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration › CHAPTER 209 — ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMISSION › Part C — Studies and Other Activities To Promote Effective Administration of Federal Elections › § 20986

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

A federal commission must work with the Postal Service to study whether the Postal Service could waive or cut the return postage for absentee ballots in federal general elections, except for ballots sent under section 3406 of title 39. The study must include a survey of likely beneficiaries, such as elderly and disabled voters, and use that survey when judging if the program would be practical and helpful. The commission must send a report to Congress no later than one year after October 29, 2002 (by October 29, 2003). The report must give recommendations, estimate the program’s cost, say whether it could be ready for the 2004 federal general election, and explain how it would reach and increase voting by elderly people and people with disabilities. Postal Service means the United States Postal Service established under section 201 of title 39.

Full Legal Text

Title 52, §20986

Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Study on the establishment of a free absentee ballot postage program
(1)In general
The Commission, in consultation with the Postal Service, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of the establishment of a program under which the Postal Service shall waive or otherwise reduce the amount of postage applicable with respect to absentee ballots submitted by voters in general elections for Federal office (other than balloting materials mailed under section 3406 of title 39) that does not apply with respect to the postage required to send the absentee ballots to voters.
(2)Public survey
As part of the study conducted under paragraph (1), the Commission shall conduct a survey of potential beneficiaries under the program described in such paragraph, including the elderly and disabled, and shall take into account the results of such survey in determining the feasibility and advisability of establishing such a program.
(b)Report
(1)Submission
Not later than the date that is 1 year after October 29, 2002, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a)(1) together with recommendations for such legislative and administrative action as the Commission determines appropriate.
(2)Costs
The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain an estimate of the costs of establishing the program described in subsection (a)(1).
(3)Implementation
The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain an analysis of the feasibility of implementing the program described in subsection (a)(1) with respect to the absentee ballots to be submitted in the general election for Federal office held in 2004.
(4)Recommendations regarding the elderly and disabled
The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)include recommendations on ways that program described in subsection (a)(1) would target elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities; and
(B)identify methods to increase the number of such individuals who vote in elections for Federal office.
(c)Postal Service defined
The term “Postal Service” means the United States Postal Service established under section 201 of title 39.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15386 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

52 U.S.C. § 20986

Title 52, Voting and Elections

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110