Oppose the Make Elections Great Again Act and Protect Voting Access

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Make Elections Great Again Act introduced by House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil. This legislation would create unnecessary barriers to voting that disproportionately harm eligible citizens while addressing problems that do not exist. The bill's mail-in ballot restrictions would disenfranchise countless voters. Requiring ballots to arrive by Election Day rather than be postmarked by that date penalizes voters for postal service delays beyond their control. Banning universal vote-by-mail systems forces voters to navigate additional bureaucratic steps simply to exercise their constitutional right. These changes make voting harder for working families, people with disabilities, rural residents, and anyone who cannot easily take time off work to vote in person. The prohibition on ballot collection except by immediate family or caregivers is particularly harmful. Many voters, especially elderly citizens and those with mobility challenges, rely on trusted community members to deliver their ballots. Limiting this assistance to four ballots criminalizes civic engagement and isolates vulnerable voters. The ban on ranked choice voting strips states of their authority to design their own election systems. Maine and Alaska have successfully implemented this method, which gives voters more choice and reduces negative campaigning. Federal interference in state election administration contradicts principles of federalism. The bill also prohibits federal agencies from helping citizens register to vote, reversing efforts to make registration more accessible. Voter registration is a fundamental democratic function, not a partisan activity. Making it harder for eligible citizens to register serves no legitimate purpose. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 98 percent of votes were already cast on paper ballots in 2024, demonstrating that many of these provisions address non-existent problems while creating real obstacles for legitimate voters. Our focus should be on expanding access and removing barriers, not creating new ones. I urge you to oppose this legislation and instead support measures that make voting more accessible for all eligible citizens.