House GOP moves to remake U.S. elections before November, and critics say the goal is obvious

House Republicans are pushing a sweeping election overhaul package dubbed the Make Elections Great Again, or MEGA, Act, which would impose new federal standards on voting nationwide. The proposal was unveiled by the Committee on House Administration and targets voter registration and ballot casting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. As highlighted by Fox News, the bill represents one of the most ambitious federal election efforts in years.

The legislation incorporates major elements of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, championed by Rep. Chip Roy. Committee Chairman Bryan Steil is leading the measure and has framed it as a way to restore trust in election outcomes through uniform standards. Steil said the bill’s guardrails would improve voter confidence, bolster election integrity, and make voting accessible while deterring fraud.

He emphasized provisions such as voter ID requirements, citizenship verification, and cleaner voter rolls as central to the proposal’s goals. In related political shifts, recent coverage noted shifting federal enforcement stances in Minneapolis, which has been a flashpoint in broader national debates on federal authority and local governance.

The bill would dramatically change how federal elections are run

One of the most significant changes centers on voter registration and identification. Under the MEGA Act, first-time registrants would be required to provide proof of citizenship, and voters casting ballots in federal elections would need to present a photo ID. Critics, including progressive Democrats and organizations such as the League of Women Voters, argue that these requirements could disenfranchise certain voters, while supporters point to polling that shows broad public backing for voter ID laws.

Beyond voter eligibility, the bill targets election administration. The legislation would ban ranked-choice voting in all federal races and require states to use auditable paper ballots instead of electronic-only systems. It also strengthens requirements for maintaining voter rolls, with an emphasis on keeping registration lists current and accurate. Recent reporting on U.S. consumer confidence plunging below pandemic lows adds context to the current national climate.

Mail-in voting would also see major changes under the proposal. The MEGA Act would ban universal mail-in ballots, requiring voters to request a ballot if they wish to vote by mail. Ballots would need to be received by Election Day to be counted, and the bill would prohibit ballot harvesting by limiting third parties from collecting and delivering completed ballots.

The push for the MEGA Act comes as Republicans position themselves ahead of the 2026 midterms, a period that often brings heightened scrutiny of election rules. The legislation’s supporters argue that standardizing procedures nationwide will reduce confusion and disputes, while opponents contend it could restrict access to the ballot box.