New Proposal Aims to Set Election Day Deadline for Mail-In Ballots

The debate over voting methods in the United States has reached Capitol Hill with a new proposal spearheaded by two supporters of President Donald Trump. This initiative aims to enhance trust in the electoral process.

Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., is set to introduce a bill requiring that absentee and mail-in ballots must reach election officials by the end of Election Day. This move has a parallel effort in the Senate led by Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.

Lee told Fox News Digital, “This is something that we’ve done in Florida for many years, and it’s an effective way of ensuring organized elections and timely results.”

The Supreme Court has issued rulings regarding mail-in ballots that arrive post-Election Day.

Florida’s voting system has been cited as an example by Lee, who served as the state’s secretary of state from 2019 to 2022. “Florida proves this system works without denying any voter the right to vote,” Lee said. “Our responsibility is to inform voters about deadlines and rules, ensuring their ballots are received.”

This follows an executive order by Trump in March 2025, dictating an Election Day deadline for accepting mail-in ballots.

If enacted, this legislation could affect millions of Americans, about a third of whom vote by mail.

“It does not curb mail voting,” said Lee. “It simply mandates ballots be received by Election Day for states that allow mail voting.”

A separate Trump order proposing significant changes to the mail-in voting system is currently under legal scrutiny. This order introduces requirements for the U.S. Postal Service to verify citizenship before delivering ballots and mandates the use of specific stationery for federal election mail.

Supporters argue the rule is crucial for boosting voter confidence, while critics say it may create confusion. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter at Fox News Digital, leads House of Representatives coverage. Her work is also featured in the Daily Mail and CBS News.