Ballot Harvesting Restrictions

Current understanding

Ballot harvesting refers to the practice of third parties collecting and delivering completed mail ballots on behalf of voters. State laws vary widely: some permit it broadly, some limit it to family members or caregivers, and others prohibit it outright. Federal proposals such as HR7356 would condition federal election administration funding on states banning the practice, framing it as a ballot-integrity measure; opponents argue such restrictions can burden voters with disabilities, elderly voters, and rural or tribal communities who rely on third-party assistance to return ballots.

Evidence log

• 2026-02-04 — To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of Federal funds for election administration in States that permit ballot harvesting.: cross-connection with usps-mail-ballot-standards: Both address the mail-ballot return chain: USPS standards govern how ballots move through the mail, while ballot harvesting rules govern who may physically collect and deliver them. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

Related