‘Vote by phone’: Eric Swalwell dials up ‘abject disaster’ idea to ‘max out democracy’
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who last week announced his candidacy for governor of the Golden State, is now pushing for California citizens to be able to vote by telephone.
Appearing Saturday on CNN’s “The Story Is” with host Elex Michaelson, Swalwell said: “I want us to be able to vote by phone.”
“If we can do our taxes … make our health care appointments, you know, make, essentially your – do your banking online, you should be able to vote by phone. Make it safe, make it secure. But it’s actually already happening all over the United States.
“I want us to be a blue state that doesn’t do just a little bit better than like Georgia or Alabama when it comes to like voting access, I want us to max out democracy.”
JUST IN: California Rep. Eric Swalwell is being TORCHED for arguing, “I want us to be able to vote by PHONE.”
“I want us to MAX OUT democracy!”
This is the worst voting idea I’ve EVER heard. That would be an abject disaster.pic.twitter.com/zm7OXUwvO5
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 22, 2025
Eric Daughtery of Florida Voice News reacted to the vote-by-phone idea, saying: “This is the worst voting idea I’ve EVER heard. That would be an abject disaster.”
The congressman, perhaps best-known for his alleged affair with purported Chinese spy Christine Fang, is also suggesting penalizing counties where voters have to wait to vote in person.
“As it relates to democracy, if you wait in line for 30 minutes or more, if you do want to vote in person, I think you should fine every county for every minute that a person has to wait longer,” Swalwell said.
“We have to be better, not just a little bit better than the other states.”
Swalwell also thinks the operation of the Department of Motor Vehicles can be modernized where drivers don’t even have to show up in person.
“I don’t think Californians should have to go in person to the DMV anymore,” he said. “I think we can do that virtually. I think you can have the DMV employees do it virtually. But that’s a lot of real estate. Digitize the DMV.”
Although Swalwell denies any wrongdoing in his relationship with Fang, the congressman was removed from his position on the House Intelligence Committee in January 2023 by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
RELEASE THE FILES! pic.twitter.com/R6kzqAXO60
— Rick (@RickSchoen35735) November 23, 2025
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