Ashley Moody (R-FL)
Ballots by Election Day Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
S. 5001, known as the Ballots by Election Day Act, changes federal election rules by amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The bill requires all ballots, including absentee and mail-in ballots, to be received by the appropriate election official no later than the time polls close on election day. This new deadline applies to federal primary, runoff, special, and general elections starting in 2027. The legislation explicitly bans states from accepting any untimely ballots for tabulation after the polls close. However, the bill provides a specific exception to this deadline for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters.
Yes
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Military and overseas voters are specifically exempted from the strict election day deadline.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill imposes a federal mandate on how states must handle the receipt of ballots.
- Scored +2
Does this make elections run better?
Creates a uniform nationwide deadline for ballot receipt, which may simplify counting timelines.
The opposite· 3 of 15
- Scored -6
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?
Eliminating post-election receipt windows reduces the accessibility of mail-in voting.
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
It restricts the ability of states to set their own deadlines for accepting mail-in ballots.
- Scored -4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Rural voters are more likely to face postal delays that would invalidate their ballots under this act.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2, adding new section 305(c): This provision ensures that absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters are exempt from the strict election day receipt deadline, which protects their ability to vote from afar without being penalized by the new timing rule.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2, adding new sections 305(a) and 305(b): These provisions require all regular absentee and mail-in ballots to be received by the close of the polls on election day and prohibit states from accepting any ballots arriving after that time, which could negatively impact voters whose ballots are delayed in the mail and arrive after polls close.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Military and overseas voters are specifically exempted from the strict election day deadline. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural voters are more likely to face postal delays that would invalidate their ballots under this act. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Rural Native American populations often experience significant mail delivery delays. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Individuals with disabilities who rely on mail-in voting may be negatively impacted by strict deadlines. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees often use absentee ballots and may be affected by delivery delays. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors who rely heavily on mail-in ballots are at higher risk of having votes excluded due to delivery delays. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Minority communities often face greater systemic hurdles in mail delivery and voting access. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Minority communities often face greater systemic hurdles in mail delivery and voting access. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural residents may experience longer mail delivery times. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Minority communities often face greater systemic hurdles in mail delivery and voting access. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income voters may face more challenges with reliable mail delivery or timely submission. Would students be better off under this? — Students living away from home often rely on mail-in ballots and may face transit delays. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Younger voters who often rely on mail-in options may be more affected by strict deadlines.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — Eliminating post-election receipt windows reduces the accessibility of mail-in voting. Does this protect the right to vote? — Stricter deadlines for mail-in ballots may lead to the disenfranchisement of voters whose ballots are delayed.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill imposes a federal mandate on how states must handle the receipt of ballots. Does this make elections run better? — Creates a uniform nationwide deadline for ballot receipt, which may simplify counting timelines. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — It restricts the ability of states to set their own deadlines for accepting mail-in ballots.
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.