POLL Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4911

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2026-03-31T19:22:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The People Over Long Lines Act (POLL Act), H.R. 4911, aims to reduce excessive waiting times at polling places during federal elections. It seeks to protect voting rights by ensuring equitable access, particularly for historically underserved groups like communities of color, people with disabilities, young voters, elderly individuals, and low-income Americans. The bill addresses disparities in wait times caused by factors such as reduced polling sites, limited early voting, and unequal resource allocation, drawing on findings from studies showing longer waits in minority neighborhoods.

Key Provisions

• State Planning Requirements: States must submit a public plan to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) at least 60 days before each federal election, outlining measures to achieve wait times under 30 minutes at all polling places. Plans require public notice and comment periods starting 30 days earlier.
• Wait Time Prohibition: States are barred from allowing any voter to wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot in federal elections. This includes accommodations for voters with disabilities.
• Remedial Actions for Violations: After elections, the EAC reviews wait times. If substantial numbers of voters (including those with disabilities) wait over 60 minutes or other election standards are violated, the Attorney General must create a remedial plan for resource allocation and monitoring. Plans end after two consecutive compliant elections. Standards for reviews and plans must be set within 180 days of enactment, with $5 million annually authorized for the EAC through 2034.
• Emergency Ballots: If voting equipment fails or causes delays, voters waiting at the time must be offered an emergency paper ballot, available in all required languages, which is counted like a regular ballot (or provisional if needed).
• Private Right of Action: Voters aggrieved by waits over 30 minutes can sue in federal court. Penalties start at $50 plus $50 per additional hour waited, plus attorney fees; penalties triple ($650 base + $150 per hour) for intentional suppression or reckless disregard. This overrides certain existing limits on lawsuits under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
• Minimum Resource Standards: States must provide adequate voting systems (equipment for voter checks, voting, and audits), poll workers, and resources at polling sites for federal elections and early voting days, based on factors like population, turnout history, and demographics. The Attorney General sets these standards within 6 months of enactment, ensuring equitable distribution to avoid disparities. A paper backup is required for electronic voter lists. Deviations are allowed for emergencies like disasters.
• Prohibition on Election Officials' Campaigning: Chief state election officials cannot engage in political activities (e.g., serving on candidate committees, soliciting contributions, or using official influence) for federal elections they oversee, with exceptions for recusal if they or immediate family run for office. Effective after January 1, 2027.
• Federal Funding: $500 million annually is authorized for states submitting plans, allocated by voting-age population (with minimums for smaller jurisdictions like D.C. or territories). Funds must support wait time reductions and resource requirements.

The changes apply to elections 180 days after enactment, except where noted (e.g., resources by January 1, 2027).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amendments to HAVA (2002): Adds new sections (e.g., Sec. 305 on wait times, Sec. 299 on standards, Sec. 321 on resources, and Part VII on payments) to Title III (election administration) and Title II (EAC duties). Redesignates sections and expands EAC roles in reviews and funding. Introduces private lawsuits for wait time violations, bypassing some prior restrictions.
• Amendments to Federal Election Campaign Act (1971): Inserts Sec. 319A prohibiting partisan activities by chief election officials, modeled on federal employee restrictions but tailored to state roles.
• These build on prior efforts like the 2014 Presidential Commission on Election Administration's 30-minute wait goal but make it enforceable with federal oversight, funding, and penalties.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could increase voter turnout by reducing discouragement from long lines (estimated to have deterred 500,000–700,000 voters in 2012 and 3% in 2016), especially benefiting minority, disabled, and low-income groups facing historical barriers. Emergency ballots prevent disenfranchisement from technical issues, while equitable resources promote fairer access.
• On Government Agencies: States face new planning, reporting, and compliance burdens, with federal intervention (EAC reviews, DOJ remedial plans) for failures. The EAC gains expanded duties and funding; DOJ's Civil Rights Division leads standard-setting and enforcement. Local election officials must allocate more resources, potentially straining budgets without federal aid.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic federal elections.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Voters: Primary beneficiaries, particularly in underserved communities (e.g., Black and Latino neighborhoods with 29% longer average waits per studies), people with disabilities, and those in high-turnout areas.
• State and Local Election Officials: Responsible for plans, resources, and compliance; chief officials restricted from campaigning.
• Federal Agencies: EAC (oversight, funding distribution), DOJ (standards, remedial plans, enforcement).
• Poll Workers and Vendors: Increased demand for trained staff and equipment to meet minimums.
• Advocacy Groups and Litigants: Gain tools for lawsuits to enforce rights, potentially increasing legal challenges.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes enforceable federal standards for state election administration, with private lawsuits providing direct recourse for voters (a shift from relying solely on government enforcement). Penalties incentivize compliance but could lead to increased litigation.
• Constitutional: Relies on Congress's authority under Article I, Section 4 (regulating federal election times, places, and manners) and the 15th Amendment, Section 2 (enforcing voting rights against denial or abridgment). This counters state-level barriers but may face challenges on federal overreach into state election powers.
• Political: Addresses voter suppression concerns post-2016 elections (e.g., long lines in Arizona, Georgia, Ohio), promoting bipartisan ideals from prior commissions while targeting disparities. Could reduce distrust in elections but spark debates over federal mandates versus state autonomy, especially with funding tied to compliance.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

Cosponsors (39)

Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• People Over Long Lines Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (23 pages)