| Washington, D.C.—In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), alongside with Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-6), introduced two critical pieces of legislation to protect and expand access to the ballot: H.R. 4881, the SWIFT VOTE Act (or the “Supplying Wait-Time Information to Facilitate Timely Voting with Operational and Technology Enhancements Act”) and H.R. 4911, the POLL Act (or the “People Over Long Lines Act”). These bills address one of the most persistent and discriminatory forms of modern-day voter suppression: unacceptably long wait times at polling places. “Let’s be real—long wait times are not an accident, they are a tactic,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett. “We’ve seen it time and time again, especially in Black and brown communities: people waiting hours just to cast a ballot. That is not democracy. That is disenfranchisement. These bills are about making the right to vote accessible, not just theoretical.” The SWIFT VOTE Act establishes a $120 million federal grant program to help states: Procure or maintain electronic poll books that streamline voter check-ins. Collect and share real-time wait time data from polling locations. Train election officials on how to use this technology effectively. States would be required to publicly report wait times at regular intervals on Election Day to ensure transparency and accountability. The POLL Act requires states to: Develop and publish plans to keep voter wait times under 30 minutes. Use emergency ballots when voting equipment fails. Provide recourse for voters forced to wait in long lines, allowing them to sue and collect civil penalties if delays effectively deny their right to vote. Under this bill, voters could receive $50 for waiting longer than 30 minutes, with additional compensation for each hour of delay. If it’s proven that the long lines were intentional or reckless, these fines would increase. “These bills are simple,” added Rep. Crockett. “If we say every American has the right to vote, then we have to mean it—and that means ensuring people have access to vote.” Both pieces of legislation build on the legacy of the Voting Rights Act by addressing the real barriers voters face today. They are part of a broader push to ensure that democracy is not just protected in name, but in practice. “As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we are unfortunately facing the same struggle for voting rights,” said Rep. Nikema Williams. “Congressman John Lewis taught us that every generation has an obligation to move our country one step forward. The POLL Act and SWIFT Vote Act take major steps to ensuring everyone can practice their fundamental right to vote. In the face of Jim Crow 2.0 and intentionally racist gerrymandering, we urgently need comprehensive national standards to protect voting rights for everyone—no matter your ZIP Code, no matter your bank account.” The full text of the SWIFT VOTE Act can be found here. The full text of the POLL Act can be found here. |
