Bill Overview
Title: Election Mail Act
Description: This bill addresses the delivery and processing of election mail. Among other provisions, the bill requires same-day processing of mail-in ballots by the U.S. Postal Service, establishes certain standards for mail-in ballots, and requires states to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by election day and arrive within seven days after the election.
Sponsors: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Target Audience
Population: people who use or are eligible to use mail-in ballots for voting
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill impacts all eligible voters in the United States who use or plan to use mail-in ballots for voting.
- There are about 258 million eligible voters in the United States as of 2023.
- Approximately 40% to 50% of voters may choose to vote by mail, especially considering trends from recent elections during the pandemic.
- In the 2020 US elections, around 65 million people voted by mail, which represented about 43% of the total general election turnout.
- Considering past trends and the provisions to improve mail-in voting process reliability, the number of potential voters relying on mail could stay significant.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to enhance the reliability and efficiency of mail-in voting, directly impacting a significant portion of the voting population who opt for mail ballots.
- Young urban professionals in densely populated areas may see improvements due to faster mail processing.
- Elderly individuals or those with disabilities who rely on mail-in voting for accessibility may experience a smoother voting process, potentially increasing their participation.
- Budget constraints mean the policy may not fully address all logistical challenges in remote or underserved areas in its initial phases.
- Individuals indifferent to or opposed to mail-in voting might not perceive significant changes in their wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
retired teacher (Florida)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems like it would make voting easier for people like me who can't always get to the polls.
- I'm hopeful that my ballot is counted without issues, especially now that mail-in voting has grown popular in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
software developer (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is crucial for ensuring our votes are counted accurately and on time.
- Living in a tech-oriented community, efficiency in all processes is really important to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
truck driver (Texas)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that makes mail-in voting easier and more reliable is a plus for me.
- There's often skepticism about whether mail-in ballots get counted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
healthcare worker (New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mail-in voting lets me participate in elections despite my demanding job.
- I support anything that standardizes and secures the voting process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
small business owner (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm somewhat apprehensive about mail-in voting but want reassurance that ballots are counted properly.
- The policy should help boost confidence in mail voting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired nurse (Arizona)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Making voting more accessible is important, especially post-pandemic.
- I'm looking for reassurance that security measures keep pace with convenience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
marketing coordinator (Pennsylvania)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see improvements in mail voting—it fits my lifestyle needs well.
- There's often debate about its reliability; clarity would help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
public school teacher (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's essential to have policies that secure an accurate and timely counting of votes.
- I trust this will make my voting experience better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
graduate student (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a young voter using mail-in ballots, I support measures enhancing voting accessibility.
- Policy like this can engage more of my peers in the electoral process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
stay-at-home parent (North Carolina)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thrilled to see improvements in mail voting, since it suits my current life situation.
- Ensuring my vote counts is incredibly important to me and my civic participation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 3: $540000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $640000000)
Year 5: $580000000 (Low: $480000000, High: $680000000)
Year 10: $680000000 (Low: $580000000, High: $780000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination between federal and state agencies is crucial.
- Potential issues related to workforce capacity and training need to be addressed.
- The reliability and timeline of USPS improvements must be assured to ensure trust in mail-in voting.
- Funding and implementation schedules will need regular oversight to remain on budget.