“Omit Votes Arriving Late Act” (O.V.A.L Act)
Purpose:
The purpose of the “Omit Votes Arriving Late Act” (O.V.A.L Act) is to establish a consistent and secure cutoff time for the receipt of ballots in the General Election for President of the United States, ensuring that only those ballots received by midnight on Election Day are counted. This act seeks to provide timely election results, reinforce election security, and uphold public confidence in the electoral process.
Section 1: Title
This Act may be cited as the “Omit Votes Arriving Late Act” or the “O.V.A.L Act.”
Section 2: Findings and Intent
Congress finds that:
- General Election Day for the President of the United States has been consistently scheduled on the first Tuesday in November every four years, which provides ample time for all eligible American voters to cast their ballots.
- Ballots are made available in advance, including absentee and mail-in options, allowing all voters sufficient time to submit their votes ahead of the election deadline.
- The practice of counting mail-in ballots received after midnight on Election Day has delayed election results, undermining the public’s confidence and diminishing the electoral process’s transparency.
- Restricting the receipt and counting of ballots to those received by midnight on Election Day would minimize potential security vulnerabilities and provide the public with timely and accurate election results.
The intent of this Act is to ensure that all ballots counted in the General Election for President are received by midnight on Election Day, thereby preserving the integrity and security of the electoral process.
Section 3: Deadline for Ballot Receipt
(a) General Requirement:
For the General Election of the President of the United States, any ballot—whether absentee, mail-in, or in-person—must be received by the designated election official no later than midnight on Election Day in order to be included in the vote count.
(b) Exclusion of Late Ballots:
No ballot received after midnight on Election Day shall be counted in the official election results, regardless of postmark or other timing factors.
Section 4: Implementation and Enforcement
(a) Responsibility of Election Officials:
Each state and local election office shall be responsible for establishing protocols to ensure compliance with the midnight receipt deadline for all ballots in the General Election for President.
(b) Public Notice Requirement:
Election authorities shall publicize the ballot receipt deadline and inform voters of the importance of timely ballot submission in order to ensure their votes are counted.
Section 5: Severability
If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Act and its applications to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
Section 6: Effective Date
This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment and shall apply to all subsequent General Elections for President of the United States.