H.R. 7874

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7874 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7874

To prohibit a State from distributing unsolicited ballots for voting by 
mail in any election for Federal office, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2026

Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Gosar, Mr. 
Timmons, Mr. Fine, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, and Mrs. Luna) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit a State from distributing unsolicited ballots for voting by 
mail in any election for Federal office, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Mail Ballot Integrity Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON UNSOLICITED MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND LIMITATION ON 
ELIGIBLE REQUESTS.

(a) Prohibition on Unsolicited Mail-In Ballots.--No State or 
political subdivision of a State may send, distribute, or otherwise 
provide a ballot to vote by mail in an election for Federal office to 
any individual who does not request the State or political subdivision 
of such State to provide the ballot.
(b) Requirements for Mail-In Voting in Federal Elections.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State shall not issue or 
transmit a ballot for voting by mail to any individual in the State in 
an election for Federal office held in the State unless each of the 
following conditions are met:
(1) Request required.--The individual submits (in person, 
by mail, or electronically) a written or electronic request for 
the ballot that includes an affirmation, under penalty of 
perjury, that the individual meets one or more of the 
eligibility criteria under paragraph (2).
(2) Eligibility criteria.--An individual who is on the 
official list of eligible voters in an election for Federal 
office in a State is eligible to request and receive a mail-in 
ballot for a Federal election in the State only if the 
individual--
(A) is a member of the uniformed services (as 
defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code) on active duty, or the spouse or dependent of 
such a member;
(B) is a student, instructor, or professor at an 
institution of higher education located outside the 
county in which the voter is registered to vote and 
resides outside that county by reason thereof, or is 
the spouse or dependent accompanying and residing with 
such individual;
(C) is a minister, priest, rabbi, or other member 
of the clergy assigned to a religious post outside the 
county of registration, or is the spouse or dependent 
accompanying and residing with such individual;
(D) expects to be temporarily absent from the 
county in which the voter is registered to vote during 
the early voting period and on election day;
(E) after the close of voter registration, has 
moved residence to another county more than 100 miles 
from the county seat of the former residence;
(F) is involuntarily confined in an institution for 
mental treatment outside the county of registration and 
is not interdicted or judicially declared incompetent;
(G) resides outside the United States;
(H) expects to be hospitalized on election day and 
did not have knowledge of the hospitalization until 
after the time for early voting expired (or was 
hospitalized during early voting, or is restricted to 
bed by a physician during early voting and on election 
day);
(I) meets the criteria for participation in a 
former State program for voters with disabilities in 
any State that has such a program;
(J) is incarcerated in an institution inside or 
outside the county of registration but is not serving a 
sentence for a felony conviction;
(K) is a participant in a State address 
confidentiality program;
(L) has a disability and submits documentation with 
respect to--
(i) a current mobility impairment 
identification card with photograph and 
international symbol of accessibility;
(ii) current documentation of eligibility 
for Social Security disability benefits, 
veterans disability benefits, paratransit 
services, benefits from a State office for 
citizens with developmental disabilities, or 
benefits from State rehabilitation services; or
(iii) current proof of disability from a 
physician, optometrist, physician assistant, or 
nurse practitioner; or
(M) has attained the age of 65 years or older.
(c) No Permanent or Automatic Mail-In Lists for Unqualified 
Voters.--A State may maintain a list of voters who have previously 
qualified for and requested mail-in ballots in an election for Federal 
office in the State, but only with respect to voters who continue to 
meet one or more of the criteria described under subsection (b)(2) as 
determined under State law.
(d) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
elections for Federal office occurring on and after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
<all>