POLE Act

HR 1467, the POLE Act, requires states to permit local governments to hold elections for local office in odd-numbered years to receive federal election administration funds. It prohibits federal funding under the Help America Vote Act for states that do not allow this, effective starting fiscal year 2027. The bill aims to ensure local elections receive focused voter attention by shifting them from even-numbered years, which Congress states overcrowd ballots and diminish community-level focus. This policy directly affects states that do not currently allow odd-year local elections, as they would lose federal funding for election administration. The bill does not change election schedules but ties federal funding to state compliance with odd-year local election requirements.