Restoring Faith in Elections Act

This bill sets national rules for how Americans register and vote in federal elections. It aims to make voting easier and faster while keeping voter lists accurate.

• Mail-in voting: Requests must arrive 21 days before the election; officials must mail the ballot within 3 days. A ballot must be signed, dated, and received by poll closing to count. Voters can return it in person, and if they decide to vote in person instead, they should bring their unused mail ballot. Only close family or a caregiver may return someone else’s completed ballot (up to two), with penalties for abuse. These rules apply after enactment.
• Fast results: States may start counting mail ballots received before Election Day at least a week early. One hour after polls close, each precinct must report how many ballots it has and how many are counted. All valid ballots must be counted and reported within 24 hours.
• Automatic voter registration: States must automatically register eligible people using government records unless the person says no. People are notified and can fix errors; voters may update their address or name at the polling place and cast a regular ballot. There are privacy protections and limits on using personal data. Federal grants help states pay for this.
• Standard rules statewide: All voting methods must be treated the same (including signature checks), and states must use uniform procedures across all counties and cities.
• Cleaner voter rolls: A new national database within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency helps states keep lists accurate and avoid duplicate registrations. Before each federal general election, states must certify list cleanups; the Postal Service and Social Security Administration send change‑of‑address and death data to states and the agency.
• Driver’s licenses and voter residence: When getting a driver’s license in a new state, people must state whether this will be their voting residence; the new state notifies the old state.

When

• Mail‑in ballot rules and fast‑reporting standards apply after enactment.
• Automatic voter registration starts January 1, 2027 (states may delay to January 1, 2029 with approval).
• Pre‑election list cleanups and federal data sharing apply starting with the November 2026 federal general election.
• The driver’s‑license voter‑residence step applies to elections in 2025 and beyond.