Sec. 1304. Carriage of election mail
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/bill/117/hr/5746/eah/section-1304A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 1301(b) and section 1303(a), is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section, the term election mail means— a blank or completed voter registration application form, voter registration card, or similar materials, relating to an election for Federal office; a blank or completed absentee and other mail-in ballot application form, and a blank or completed absentee or other mail-in ballot, relating to an election for Federal office, and other materials relating to an election for Federal office that are mailed by a State or local election official to an individual who is registered to vote.
Election mail (other than balloting materials covered under section 3406 (relating to the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act)), individually or in bulk, shall be carried in accordance with the service standards established for first-class mail under section 3691. Completed absentee or other mail-in ballots (other than balloting materials covered under section 3406 (relating to the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act)) shall be carried free of postage. During the 120-day period which ends on the date of an election for Federal office, the Postal Service may not carry out any new operational change that would restrict the prompt and reliable delivery of election mail.
This subsection applies to operational changes which include— removing or eliminating any mail collection box without immediately replacing it; and removing, decommissioning, or any other form of stopping the operation of mail sorting machines, other than for routine maintenance. The Postal Service shall appoint an Election Mail Coordinator at each area office and district office to facilitate relevant information sharing with State, territorial, local, and Tribal election officials in regards to the mailing of election mail. .
Section 2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking sections 3217 and 3403 through 3406 and inserting sections 3217, 3403 through 3406, and 3409 . The table of sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 1301(b) and section 1303(a), is amended by adding at the end the following: 3409. Domestic election mail; restriction of operational changes prior to elections. . The amendments made by this section shall take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this section.