This bill prohibits the use of federal election administration funds in states that permit third parties, other than specified exceptions, to collect and transmit mail ballots.
Charles (Chuck) Edwards
Representative
NC-11
This bill, the No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act, prohibits the use of federal election administration funds in any state that permits third parties to collect and transmit absentee ballots. It mandates that states must ban the practice commonly known as "ballot harvesting" to remain eligible for federal election funding. Exceptions are made for election officials, mail carriers, and immediate family or caregivers of the voter.
No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act: New Mandate Could Cut Election Funding Over Third-Party Ballot Collection
The No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act aims to overhaul how states handle absentee ballots by pulling federal election money from any state that allows 'ballot harvesting.' Under this bill, states would be required to pass laws that make it illegal for anyone to knowingly collect and transmit a ballot mailed to another person, with specific exceptions for election officials, mail carriers, and close personal contacts. If a state doesn't play by these rules, it loses access to the federal funds normally used to keep the gears of election administration turning, from maintaining voter rolls to securing polling places.
The Trusted Circle Only
Section 2 of the bill creates a strict 'who’s who' list of people allowed to touch your ballot. If you can’t get to a mailbox or a drop box yourself, the bill says only a family member (related by blood, marriage, or adoption), a household member (someone living at your address), or a caregiver (someone providing medical or health care) can help you. For a busy office worker who usually asks a trusted neighbor to drop off their ballot on the way to work, or a construction worker who relies on a community volunteer to collect ballots from a remote job site, this change would make those common shortcuts illegal if the state wants to keep its federal funding.
Funding at Stake
By amending Section 907 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the bill uses federal dollars as a lever to change state-level voting procedures. This creates a high-stakes choice for state governments: either ban third-party collection or find a way to fund their entire election infrastructure without federal help. For voters, the impact is direct. If you live in a state that currently allows community organizations or non-relatives to collect ballots—a practice the bill’s findings claim creates 'chain-of-custody vulnerabilities'—you might find your options for returning a ballot significantly narrowed. This could be especially tough for people in rural areas with limited mail service or those with disabilities who don't have a live-in caregiver or nearby family.
Defining the Helping Hand
The bill provides specific definitions for who qualifies as a helper, but these definitions are fairly narrow. A 'caregiver' is strictly defined as someone providing medical or health care in a residence or facility. This means a friend who checks in on an elderly neighbor but doesn't provide formal medical care wouldn't legally be allowed to drop off that neighbor's ballot. While the bill’s findings argue these restrictions are necessary to prevent 'undue influence' and 'electioneering at home,' the practical reality is that it adds a layer of bureaucracy to the simple act of helping a friend or neighbor participate in an election.