The Vote at Home Act of 2025 would make it easier for all Americans to vote in federal elections by allowing every eligible voter to cast ballots by mail. Currently, voting rules vary widely by state—some states let anyone vote by mail without needing an excuse, while others make it difficult. This bill would change that by requiring states to mail ballots to all registered voters at least two weeks before federal elections, starting in 2026. States could still operate polling places for people who prefer to vote in person, but mail voting would become a guaranteed option for everyone.

The bill also streamlines voter registration by connecting it to driver's license applications at motor vehicle offices. When someone applies for or renews a driver's license, they'd automatically be registered to vote unless they specifically decline. This builds on automatic registration systems already used in some states. The bill includes protections so that being automatically registered won't affect someone's immigration status or be used against them in legal proceedings.

According to the bill, mail voting has real benefits: it costs less to administer (Oregon and Colorado saw costs drop by 30-40 percent), reduces long polling place lines (some voters waited 4-6 hours in 2024), and helps people with disabilities, work schedules, or transportation challenges participate in elections. The bill also requires the postal service to deliver election ballots for free. Supporters argue that mail voting is secure, increasingly popular (nearly 30 percent of ballots were cast by mail in 2024), and has been successfully used in multiple states without significant fraud problems.

Vote at Home Act of 2025

Wyden, Ron

Vote at Home Act of 2025This bill expands voting by mail in federal elections and provides for automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle authorities.Specifically, the bill prohibits states from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of individuals to cast ballots by mail in federal elections, except states may impose a deadline for requesting the ballot and related voting materials and for returning a ballot.Further, states must mail ballots to individuals registered to vote in a federal election not later than two weeks before the election.In addition, the U.S. Postal Service must carry ballots for federal elections expeditiously and free of postage.Finally, the bill provides for automatic voter registration of individuals through state motor vehicle authorities.