In response to long lines and other problems that occurred on election day, two different pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress to improve the elections process. From the National Association of Counties (NACo), November 16 Legislative Bulletin:

Former President and County Executive of New Castle County, Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) introduced the Fair, Accurate, Securely and Timely Voting Act (FAST Voting Act). The bill would make improvements in the administration of elections with the goal to make voting faster and more accessible to all voters.

…the bill would create a program to award grants based on how well states are able to improve access to the polls in a number of specified ways. Among them are: the provision of flexible registration opportunities, the provision of early voting, the provision of absentee voting, and the auditing and reduction of wait times at polling stations.

Representative George Miller (D-CA) has introduced the “Streamlining and Improving Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act.”

Among other provisions, the SIMPLE Voting Act would require states to provide for a minimum of 15 days of early voting in federal elections and to have contingency plans in place to resolve situations in which long lines develop.