Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Postage Free Ballot Act”.
Postage Free Ballot Act
A BILL
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide that any absentee ballot may be mailed free of postage, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Absentee ballots carried free of postage
In general— Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 3406 the following:
“3407. Absentee ballots carried free of postage
“(a) Any absentee ballot for any election shall be carried expeditiously and free of postage.
“(b) As used in this section, the term “absentee ballot” does not include any ballot covered by section 3406.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections for chapter 34 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3406 the following:
Reimbursement— Section 2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking “3406” and inserting “3407”.
Sec. 3 Use by States of requirements payments under Help America Vote Act of 2002 to reimburse Postal Service
Authorizing use of payments— Section 251(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)” and inserting “as otherwise provided in this subsection”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Reimbursement of Postal Service for costs associated with absentee ballots—A State shall use a requirements payment to reimburse the United States Postal Service for the revenue which the Postal Service would have obtained as the result of the mailing of absentee ballots in the State but for section 3407 of title 39, United States Code.”
Effective date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the requirements payments made to a State under part 1 of subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.)—
for fiscal year 2019 or any previous fiscal year, but only to the extent that any such payment remains unobligated or unexpended by the State as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and
for fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.