SWIFT VOTE Act

This bill helps states and local election offices buy and maintain electronic pollbooks and share real-time voting wait times with the public, to cut lines and make voting smoother. The Election Assistance Commission must give out these grants within one year of the law taking effect.

Key points

• Who is affected: States and local election offices that run federal elections are eligible for grants.
• What changes:
  • Grants can pay for e-pollbooks or tools to track and share wait times, with priority for places showing clear need and plans to publish wait times.
  • Wait times must be posted on the election office’s website during voting: hourly if a site is open 4 hours or less, and at least four times if open longer. After each election cycle, offices must post a report with wait times, including early voting days.
  • Election offices must train workers to use e-pollbooks and to serve all voters, including people with limited English or disabilities.
  • E-pollbooks bought with these funds must meet the Election Assistance Commission’s certification program or a similar program. Funds must add to, not replace, existing money, and offices must send regular updates to the Commission.
• Funding: Authorizes $120 million for these grants, available until used.