Vote by Mail Tracking Act
Summary
The Vote by Mail Tracking Act aims to amend Title 39 of the United States Code, mandating the use of Postal Service barcode services for mail-in ballots. This requirement ensures tracking of individual ballots and compliance with Postal Service regulations regarding envelope design and machine readability. The Act seeks to enhance the integrity and transparency of mail-in voting processes.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the bill would require all government entities to use mail-in ballot envelopes with Postal Service barcodes for tracking purposes. This would apply to federal elections starting in 2026. The Postmaster General would be responsible for providing necessary information to comply with these requirements.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced tracking of mail-in ballots, increasing transparency and reducing potential fraud.
- Standardized ballot envelope design, potentially improving processing efficiency.
- Improved public confidence in the integrity of mail-in voting.
- Better data collection and analysis of mail-in voting trends.
- Increased accountability in the handling of mail-in ballots.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increased costs for government entities to implement the barcode system.
- Possible delays in ballot delivery due to new requirements.
- Concerns about data privacy related to tracking individual ballots.
- Risk of technical issues or errors in the barcode scanning process.
- Potential for voter disenfranchisement if ballot envelopes do not meet the new standards.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution by promoting secure and fair elections, which is a fundamental aspect of representative democracy. While the Constitution does not explicitly address mail-in voting, Article I, Section 4 grants Congress the power to regulate the "Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives." This bill falls under that purview.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).