This bill, titled the "Ballots by Election Day Act," amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish a uniform deadline for ballot receipt in federal elections. It mandates that all ballots, including absentee and mail-in ballots , must be physically received by the appropriate election official no later than the time polls close on the date of the election to be considered valid and counted. The legislation explicitly prohibits states from tabulating any ballot received after this Election Day deadline. However, it includes a crucial exception for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters , ensuring their ballots are not subject to this new requirement. These provisions are set to take effect for all federal elections held in 2027 and subsequent years, aiming to standardize ballot receipt deadlines across the nation.