[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2142 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2142

  To amend title 39, United States Code, to allow absentee ballots in 
       Federal elections to be mailed by voters free of postage.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 3, 2007

   Mrs. Davis of California introduced the following bill; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 39, United States Code, to allow absentee ballots in 
       Federal elections to be mailed by voters free of postage.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. MAILING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3407. Mailing of absentee ballots in Federal elections
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), any 
individual casting an absentee ballot in any Federal election may mail 
such ballot free of postage to the appropriate election authority. Any 
envelope or other cover containing such ballot shall bear the words 
`Absentee Ballot--No Postage Necessary', or words or other marking to 
that effect specified by the Postal Service, in the upper right-hand 
corner.
    ``(b) Exception.--This section shall not apply in the case of any 
mail matter transmitted under the provisions of the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
    ``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `Federal 
election' means a general, special, primary, or runoff election held 
solely or in part for the purpose of electing any candidate for the 
office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, or Senator 
or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 34 of 
title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the following:

``3407. Mailing of absentee ballots in Federal elections.''.

SEC. 2. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Amendments to Title 39.--Sections 2401(c) and 3627 of title 39, 
United States Code, are amended by striking ``3406'' and inserting 
``3407''.
    (b) Additional Amendment.--Section 505(c) of the Postal 
Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 109-435; 39 U.S.C. 1217 
note) is amended by striking ``3406'' and inserting ``3407''.
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