Swalwell Proposes Mobile Voting in California

During an interview with CNN, California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell discussed his vision for voting in California as part of his gubernatorial campaign. He believes that using cell phones for voting should be an option for residents.

“We want to be able to vote by phone,” Swalwell said to CNN’s Elex Michaelson on Saturday. His reasoning is straightforward: if people can manage taxes, medical appointments, and banking online, then why not voting? “It’s already happening all over the United States,” he added, encouraging safe practices.

Swalwell’s ambition goes beyond simply improving voting in California; he wants the state to outperform others, particularly Republican-dominated ones. He emphasized the importance of making the democratic process more accessible. “If you want to vote in person, I think every county should impose a fine for every additional minute you wait in line,” he suggested. This, he claims, would help streamline the voting experience.

He also mentioned the need to modernize the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), aiming to minimize in-person visits.

In recent years, various states have tested mobile and online voting options. West Virginia took a step in 2018 by allowing overseas voters to cast ballots using an app during midterm elections. Since then, a nonprofit organization has initiated mobile voting pilot programs in multiple states, including Utah and Colorado.

However, these mobile voting initiatives are usually restricted to specific local elections, mainly serving overseas voters.

Swalwell’s candidacy for governor was formally announced on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and he joins a competitive field that includes other Democratic figures like former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire activist Tom Steyer. On the Republican side, candidates like former Fox News host Steve Hilton are also in the mix.