Testify at the Legislature

Thank you for your willingness to testify to the legislature to allow for cities to offer mobile voting for voters in your state. By expressing your position to decision-makers, you help ensure that lawmakers understand that with mobile voting, we can securely expand participation by ensuring everyone has their say in our elections.

IMPORTANT: If you are interested in speaking in front of the legislature in support of mobile voting legislation, please first reach out to The Mobile Voting Team at bryce@mobilevoting.org. The Mobile Voting Project staff can help you with logistics for registering to speak, talking points, context for what the hearing will look like, and information about what other proponents are sharing to avoid duplication.

General Information About Testifying at the Legislature:

  • In most states you will have the option to register to testify either in person or virtually. In person testimony is always more powerful and preferred if at all possible.

  • Show up early so you are ready to testify on time. Legislative committees are known to start early or late at times depending on their fluctuating schedules.

  • Dress professionally

  • Keep your testimony short, trying to avoid going any longer than two minutes

  • Mention the bill by name (example: Senate Bill 123 or House Bill 1566) to provide clarity about which bill you are speaking to

  • Start by addressing the chair (“Madam/Mr. Chair and members of the committee…”)

  • Focus your testimony on your personal story. Why does this legislation matter to you and the people you care about?

  • Avoid discussing any opposition talking points. Just focus on why you support the bill.

Sample Testimony #1

Chair and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify.

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY/STATE]. I am here today in support of [BILL NUMBER] to expand mobile voting as an option for voters in city elections.

For many people, voting is not as simple as showing up on Election Day. Seniors, people with disabilities, rural residents, and military voters often face real barriers—whether it’s traveling long distances, navigating physical challenges, or meeting strict timelines. Even for those without these obstacles, work schedules and family responsibilities can make voting difficult.

We’ve made progress with mail-in voting, but it is not a perfect solution. Delays, lost ballots, and concerns about security can reduce confidence in the system.

Mobile voting offers a way forward. It allows voters to cast their ballots securely from their smartphones—meeting people where they are. And we’ve already seen the impact: pilot programs in places like Denver and Seattle have significantly increased turnout, proving that when voting is easier, more people participate.

Importantly, mobile voting systems are designed with strong security measures, including identity verification, encryption, offline ballot processing, and the ability for voters to confirm their ballot was counted.

This legislation does not replace existing voting methods—it simply provides another option, expanding access while maintaining security.

A stronger democracy is one where everyone can participate, not just those for whom voting is most convenient. I respectfully urge you to support this legislation.

Thank you for your time.


Sample #2

Chair and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify.

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am here to express my support for [BILL NUMBER] that would allow for the expansion of mobile voting in municipal elections.

Today, too many eligible voters face barriers to participation. Geographic distance, disability, overseas deployment, and time constraints all contribute to lower turnout. These are not hypothetical challenges—they are persistent gaps in our democratic system.

Mobile voting directly addresses these issues by increasing accessibility and convenience. Evidence from real-world implementations is compelling. In Denver, a mobile voting pilot program doubled participation among eligible voters. In Seattle-area elections, turnout tripled when mobile voting was introduced, with the majority of voters choosing the mobile option when given the choice.

In addition to improving access, mobile voting systems incorporate multiple layers of security. These include multi-factor authentication to verify voter identity, end-to-end encryption to protect ballots, offline “air-gapped” processing to prevent cyber interference, and voter-verifiable tracking systems. Open-source auditing further enhances transparency and public trust.

It is also important to emphasize that this legislation does not eliminate existing voting methods. Instead, it adds a complementary option—one that reflects how people live and interact in a modern, digital society.

Expanding mobile voting is a practical, evidence-based step toward increasing participation, strengthening security, and modernizing our elections.

I respectfully urge the committee to support [BILL NUMBER].

Thank you.