House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) indicated that a ban on mail-in ballots could be included in the Republicans' third-party-line budget bill. In an interview with the Washington Examiner on July 23, Steil mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding the policies to be included in the reconciliation bill. When asked about the possibility of banning mail-in ballots, he stated he was 'not ruling anything in or out at this time.'
The House Administration Committee has been allocated $10 billion in the House's budget resolution for election law reforms, as it oversees federal elections. GOP leadership aims to incorporate elements of the SAVE America Act, which includes voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, into the budget bill.
Former President Donald Trump has advocated for a ban on mail-in ballots, with limited exceptions, as part of the SAVE America Act. Steil expressed confidence that Republicans can make significant progress on election integrity in the budget bill, contingent on the Senate passing its budget resolution.
Steil emphasized the need for voters to request ballots, referencing his election reform package, the Make Elections Great Again Act, which he introduced earlier this year. This act proposes various measures, including requiring photo ID to vote and stricter voter list maintenance requirements. The House passed its budget framework last week, but the timeline for the Senate's action remains unclear.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has indicated that the Senate will not proceed with the reconciliation process until a government funding bill is passed, which could affect the timeline for advancing the House's budget measures.