Trump allies propose federal deadline for mail-in ballots before Election Day
Rep. Laurel Lee and Sen. Ashley Moody introduced a bill that would require absentee ballots to be received by the end of Election Day, mirroring a 2025 Trump executive order.
On Capitol Hill, Rep. Laurel Lee and Sen. Ashley Moody are sponsoring a bill that would require all absentee and mail-in ballots to be delivered to election officials by the end of Election Day, aligning with a March 2025 executive order signed by Donald Trump. Lee, who served as Florida’s secretary of state from 2019 to May 2022, argues the deadline reflects a system already used in Florida and does not impede mail voting, merely sets a receipt cutoff.
The legislation would apply to any state that permits mail voting and could impact nearly one-third of American voters who cast ballots by mail. Critics warn that altering the deadline ahead of the November midterms could disrupt states where mail voting is common. The proposal also arrives amid a broader legal fight over Trump’s order that adds verification and stationery requirements for mailed ballots, a rule contested by over 20 states.
Why it matters
Changing the deadline for mail-in ballots could reshape voting access for millions ahead of the midterm elections.
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