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Letter from Connolly, Cummings, Wilson Requesting GAO StudyOn Election Day 2012, voters across the country were forced to wait in long lines in order to cast their votes
Washington, DC,
February 2, 2014
Tags:
Voting Rights
Reports indicate that long poll lines did not affect all voters equally. Black and Hispanic voters had significantly longer wait times on average than white voters, and voters in urban areas generally faced longer wait times than voters in suburban and rural areas.[5] Long waiting times place undue hardship on individuals who cannot afford to take time off work, or who are physically unable to endure standing for long periods of time.
The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro Dear Mr. Dodaro: On Election Day 2012, voters across the country were forced to wait in long lines in order to cast their votes. For example, voters in Virginia waited for as long as four hours to cast their ballots.[1] One study estimated that in Florida, more than 200,000 voters decided not to vote because the lines were too long.[2] Similar reports surfaced from Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other states across the country.[3] Long lines were not only a problem in 2012, but also in past presidential elections.[4] Reports indicate that long poll lines did not affect all voters equally. Black and Hispanic voters had significantly longer wait times on average than white voters, and voters in urban areas generally faced longer wait times than voters in suburban and rural areas.[5] Long waiting times place undue hardship on individuals who cannot afford to take time off work, or who are physically unable to endure standing for long periods of time. As President Obama said in his recent State of the Union address: When any Americans—no matter where they live or what their party—are denied that right simply because they can't wait for five, six, seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals.[6] For these reasons, we request that GAO conduct a study of the underlying causes contributing to long lines on Election Day, including evaluating laws that impact voting rights and election administration. This study will help inform both federal and state policymakers about the types of reforms that will most effectively reduce long waiting times and ensure that all Americans obtain equal access to the ballot box. We also request that GAO examine two states—Virginia and Florida—as case studies in order to conduct more detailed analyses, although you may wish to add others. Specifically, we request that GAO examine the following questions: 1. To what extent did local election jurisdictions encounter long voter waiting times during the 2012 general election, and what information did they collect on voter waiting times? 2. What do state and local election officials and available research identify as the most significant factors that contributed to extended waiting times? 3. What successful actions have federal, state, and local governments taken to reduce waiting times, and what do they and other stakeholders identify as the most beneficial practices to achieve this goal? If you have any questions about this request, please contact Claire Coleman or Adam Koshkin at (202) 225-5051. Sincerely, Elijah E. Cummings Gerry Connolly Frederica Wilson |