Election mail and delivery improvements

(a) Postmark required for ballots (1) In general Chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3408. Postmark required for ballots (a) In general In the case of any absentee ballot carried by the Postal Service, the Postal Service shall indicate on the ballot envelope, using a postmark or otherwise— (1) the fact that the ballot was carried by the Postal Service; and (2) the date on which the ballot was mailed. (b) Definitions As used in this section— (1) the term absentee ballot means any ballot transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for Federal office, but does not include any ballot covered by section 3406; and (2) the term election for Federal office means a general, special, primary, or runoff election for the office of President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.. (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 34 of title 39, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3408. Postmark required for ballots.. (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to absentee ballots relating to an election for Federal office occurring on or after the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Greater visibility for ballots (1) In general Subtitle C of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.), as added by section 3, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 312. Ballot visibility (a) In general Each State or local election official shall— (1) affix Tag 191, Domestic and International Mail-In Ballots (or any successor tag designated by the United States Postal Service), to any tray or sack of official ballots relating to an election for Federal office that is destined for a domestic or international address; (2) use the Official Election Mail logo to designate official ballots relating to an election for Federal office that is destined for a domestic or international address; and (3) if an intelligent mail barcode (as described in section 311) is utilized for any official ballot relating to an election for Federal office that is destined for a domestic or international address, ensure the specific ballot service type identifier for such mail is visible. (b) Effective date The requirements of this section shall apply to elections for Federal office occurring on and after the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this section.. (2) Issuance of voluntary guidance by election assistance commission Section 321(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21101(b)), as redesignated by section 3, is amended— (A) by striking and at the end of paragraph (2); (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) in the case of the recommendations with respect to section 312, the date described in section 312(b).. (3) Clerical amendment The table of contents of such Act, as amended by section 3, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 311 the following new item: Sec. 312. Ballot visibility..