Postal Service would be banned from removing mailboxes in the 120 days before federal elections

What does this do?

HR 4915 requires the U.S. Postal Service to process ballots the day they arrive, postmark every ballot envelope, and treat election mail at first-class speed. Mail-in ballots would be returned free of postage, and the post office could not remove mailboxes or shut down sorting machines in the 120 days before a federal election. Starting with the November 2026 election, states must count mail-in ballots received up to seven days after Election Day if they were postmarked by Election Day.

Who does it affect?

The bill directly affects voters who use mail-in or absentee ballots in federal elections, as well as state and local election offices that administer them. The U.S. Postal Service, its regional offices, and the Postmaster General all face new operational and reporting requirements.

Why does it matter?

Ballot tracking requirements and same-day processing rules would change how election offices and postal facilities coordinate during election periods. The seven-day post-Election Day counting window would affect when final results in federal races can be certified under state law.

What does it cost, and who pays?

The summary does not include spending figures, funding amounts, or fine structures, but it does specify that voters would no longer pay postage to return completed ballots, shifting that cost elsewhere.

Where does it stand?