Bill · H.R. 529· House(119-HR-529)
RACE Act
- Introduced
- 1/16/2025
- Last activity
- 1/16/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Sponsored by
- August Pfluger
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The RACE Act aims to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002. It proposes specific deadlines for states regarding Federal office elections. States would be required to finish counting ballots by 10:00 p.m. on the date of the election. Additionally, states must certify election results within 48 hours after the election date. Exceptions are allowed for bona fide emergencies, such as major disasters, or technical difficulties like malfunctioning equipment.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+4
The bill expands federal oversight by establishing mandatory, uniform deadlines for state election processes.
Does this make elections run better?+2
The bill aims to increase electoral certainty by requiring states to certify results within a strict 48-hour window.
The opposite
Does this protect the right to vote?-3
The bill's strict 10:00 p.m. deadline for counting ballots may negatively impact the ability to count all legal votes, particularly mail-in or late-arriving ballots.
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?-3
The mandate to finish counting by 10:00 p.m. on election day could restrict the window for processing various types of ballots.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Established Deadlines: The bill requires states to finish counting ballots by 10:00 p.m. on election day and certify results within 48 hours (Section 2(a)). This establishes a specific timeline for the completion of Federal election processes.
-
Flexibility for Emergencies: The bill provides exceptions to the new deadlines if a failure to meet them is caused by a bona fide emergency, such as a major disaster, or technical difficulties like malfunctioning equipment or software (Section 2(a)(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Strict Counting Requirements: The bill mandates that a State must finish counting all ballots cast in a Federal election no later than 10:00 p.m. on the date of the election (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Strict Certification Requirements: The bill mandates that a State must certify the results of a Federal election no later than 48 hours after the date of the election (Section 2(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4Improves Electoral Process+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Voting Access-3Improves Voting Rights-3
- 1/16/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Brian BabinRepublican · Texas
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York