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119-hr-9890119th Congress

Polling Place Standards Act

Sponsored By: Representative Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

Introduced

Summary

Minimum polling place standards. This bill would require that for Federal elections States provide at least 1 covered polling place or vote center for every 2,000 registered voters and prevent excessive concentration of sites in any single area.

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  • Voters: More geographically spread polling sites and broader access to vote centers that accept ballots from any precinct, aiming to shorten lines and improve access.
  • Election officials: Would need to begin preparations at least 30 days before the voting period and staff each site to process ballots timely, secure equipment, meet accessibility rules, and aim for wait times under 30 minutes.
  • States: Establishes a federal grant program to help states meet the standards and authorizes such sums as may be necessary to implement the requirements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Grants to help states run polling

If enacted, the bill would create a federal grant program to help States meet the polling place requirements. The Commission would award grants to States and may hire staff to run the program. The bill would authorize appropriations of "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the Act. These grants would be available upon enactment.

Polling place minimums and rules

If enacted, State and local election officials would need to prepare at least 30 days before the voting period for any Federal election. During the voting period, each State would need at least one covered polling place or vote center for every 2,000 registered voters. Polling places and vote centers would have to be spread across geographically diverse areas and not concentrated in one area. Each required location would have to be adequately staffed to process ballots timely, secure equipment and ballots, and meet accessibility laws; officials would consider factors such as precinct size, check-in stations, ballot machines, and whether wait time is 30 minutes or less. The bill would define a "covered polling place" as serving only voters in a precinct and a "vote center" as accepting any voter regardless of precinct. The bill would exempt States or local areas that let every voter use a drop box or mail their Federal ballot from the minimum-location rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

GA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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