Two Florida Republicans are advancing legislation to require absentee and mail-in ballots to be received by election officials by the end of Election Day nationwide, according to the report. The outlet says the change could affect millions of voters ahead of the midterms and notes internal Republican divisions over the timing.
What the bill would do
Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., plans to introduce the House bill, with a companion measure reportedly led in the Senate by “Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.,” per the report. Lee argued the approach mirrors Florida’s long-standing practice.
“This is something that we’ve done in Florida for many years, and it’s a really effective way of making sure that elections stay organized and that we have timely election results,” Lee told Fox News Digital.
Lee maintained the proposal does not curtail mail voting options but would standardize the receipt deadline nationwide. “One thing that’s important to understand about this bill is that it doesn’t limit voting by mail. It simply says that for states who allow mail voting, ballots must be received by Election Day,” she said. “So it still keeps all of those options that states have chosen to implement on the table for them. It just creates a different deadline.”
Florida model and Lee’s background
Lee served as Florida’s secretary of state from 2019 until May 2022, overseeing state elections before winning a seat in Congress, the report notes. She pointed to Florida’s experience as evidence: “Florida is proof-positive that this works, that it does not deny any voter the right to vote.”
Republican split and the stakes
The outlet reports that nearly a third of Americans vote by mail, so a national Election Day receipt rule could reshape procedures in many states. It also says the issue has split Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers from states that heavily use mail voting wary of changing rules close to November. The report characterizes both Lee and the reported Senate lead as allies of former President Donald Trump.
Link to a separate Trump order—and ongoing litigation
The proposal follows an executive order former President Trump signed in March 2025 that set an Election Day deadline for when mail-in ballots can be received, according to the report. Separately, the outlet says another Trump executive order—now in litigation with more than 20 states—would require the U.S. Postal Service and other agencies to verify proof of citizenship before delivering ballots and mandate specific stationery marking federal election mail. Supporters, per the report, argue such measures would bolster confidence, while opponents warn of confusion and disruption.
