H.R. 8092: Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-08-22 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-08-22 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act

Plain summary

Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act This bill establishes certain rules for the treatment of absentee ballots in federal elections. Specifically, the bill requires states to allow an individual to (1) submit a request for an absentee ballot through the internet or mobile application and by telephone, and (2) cast their ballot by delivering it by mail or to a polling place or drop-off location. Further, the bill prohibits states from refusing to accept or process an absentee ballot on the grounds that the individual did not meet a deadline for returning the ballot, if the ballot is (1) postmarked, signed, or otherwise indicated by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that it was mailed on or before the date of the election; and (2) received by the appropriate election official prior to the expiration of the 10-day period beginning on the date of the election. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the USPS. The report must include (1) a review of the current level of staffing, funding, equipment, and other information related to the USPS; and (2) recommendations on how to improve the USPS to provide low-cost and efficient postal delivery services six days a week.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · 22 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Joe Neguse (D-CO)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr8092.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr8092 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116