Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) is taking a strong stand for election security with his new bill, the Make Elections Secure Act (MESA).
This legislation aims to overhaul how federal elections are conducted, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and trust in the voting process.
Sessions’ bill aligns with former President Donald Trump’s Agenda 47 vision for restoring confidence in American elections.
The proposed law would eliminate electronic voting machines, require hand-marked paper ballots, and mandate strict voter ID and citizenship verification.
“Voters want a system they can trust, rooted in hand-marked paper ballots. I’m drafting MESA to deliver election security and make sure every legal vote is counted accurately and transparently,” Sessions stated in his press release.
Five Key Pillars of the Bill
Sessions’ proposal focuses on five major changes to the way elections are run:
- Hand-Marked and Hand-Counted Paper Ballots
Under MESA, all federal elections would require hand-marked paper ballots that are manually counted in full public view.
This means no more electronic voting machines, which many conservatives argue are vulnerable to hacking and manipulation.
The bill also mandates ballot security features, like watermarks and tamper-proof paper, to prevent fraud. Election officials would have to report results within four hours of polls closing.
- Voter ID and Citizenship Verification
To stop noncitizens from voting, MESA requires government-issued photo ID—like a driver’s license or passport—for in-person voting.
It also mandates that all voters sign an affidavit confirming their U.S. citizenship and single-vote intent, with felony charges for false statements.
For mail-in voting, citizens would have to provide proof of identity before receiving a ballot. Existing voter rolls would also be checked against citizenship records.
- Shorter Early Voting Period
The bill limits early in-person voting to just three days before Election Day, aiming to cut down on administrative chaos and ensure better oversight.
Sessions says concentrating voting into a shorter window will reduce the risk of ballot harvesting and make election results faster and more reliable.
- Tighter Restrictions on Mail-In Ballots
MESA allows mail-in ballots only for active-duty military members and voters with a physician-certified medical condition preventing them from voting in person.
Unsolicited ballots—like those automatically mailed to voters in some states—would be banned. Ballots must also arrive by Election Day to be counted.
- Smaller Precincts for Better Oversight
To prevent chaos in large voting centers, MESA caps precincts at 1,500 registered voters. This ensures more manageable hand counts and reduces opportunities for fraud.
Election Day observers and live-streamed ballot counting will add another layer of security.
Why This Matters
Sessions says these changes are essential to restoring faith in America’s elections.
“The integrity of our elections is at stake. We can’t allow outdated systems full of vulnerabilities to undermine public trust. Americans deserve fair, secure, and transparent elections,” he said.
For years, Republicans have raised concerns about election security, pointing to issues like outdated voter rolls, ballot harvesting, and the risks of electronic voting machines.
A 2023 poll by Rasmussen found that 60% of voters believe mail-in ballots make elections more vulnerable to fraud. Another 75% of Americans support requiring voter ID to cast a ballot.
What Critics Say
Not everyone agrees with Sessions’ approach. Some Democrats argue that the bill will make voting harder, especially for seniors and people in rural areas.
They claim that limiting early voting and restricting mail-in ballots could lead to lower turnout. They also criticize the voter ID rules, saying they could disenfranchise voters who lack government-issued identification.
However, Sessions counters that MESA includes free voter ID provisions, ensuring that all eligible citizens can obtain an ID at no cost.
“Voting is a right, but it’s also a responsibility,” Sessions said. “We must have secure elections that only count legal votes.”
What’s Next?
MESA has been introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on House Administration.
If passed, states will be required to comply with its rules by November 2025 to continue receiving federal election funding.
Many conservatives see this as a critical step toward restoring election integrity and preventing fraud in future elections.
The bill’s success, however, will depend on whether Republicans can gain enough support in both chambers of Congress.
For now, election security remains a top priority for conservatives, and Congressman Sessions is leading the charge.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
