League Urges Congress to Preserve funding for elections

The League joined over 100 coalition partners on a letter calling on Congress to preserve $75 million currently allocated for Election Security Grants in the Senate FY24 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. The letter further argued that as we approach the 2024 election cycle, we cannot afford to reduce funding further. The letter outlines the need for a match of federal investment in the last presidential election of $835 million in HAVA security grants. 

September 28, 2023 

Dear Member of Congress, 

As organizations and election officials deeply committed to safeguarding and expanding voting access, we are writing to urge your leadership in preserving the $75 million currently allocated for Election Security Grants in the Senate Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill. Protecting this $75 million appropriation is one of the most critical voting rights priorities for the 118th Congress. With changing laws in state legislatures across the country, including restrictions on nonprofit support and limiting local tax revenue, elections offices are left with limited options to meet urgent gaps in equipment, personnel, and facilities. 

We commend Congress’s efforts in securing last year's $75 million allocation, which has played a pivotal role in addressing the needs of voters across the nation. However, the challenges we face moving into an election year require a more substantial and sustained investment to ensure that all Americans can exercise their fundamental right to vote. 
Election officials in every state encounter a multitude of challenges each electoral cycle, demanding substantial financial resources. These challenges encompass navigating a dynamic landscape of cybersecurity threats, modernizing voting equipment to eliminate technical issues and ensure accurate result tabulation, continuous improvements to voter registration systems for precise voter rolls, and comprehensive training and education for election staff, poll workers, and the public.
 
When election administration is not adequately resourced, the core functions of our elections and the democratic process are threatened, as is the ability of large numbers of voters to participate. Frontline election workers who keep our democracy running year in and year out are unable to serve their communities, and voters, especially voters of color and those in low-income communities, risk disenfranchisement. Inadequate funding of election offices can cause long lines, delays in processing voter registrations or mail ballots, and other problems that can become insurmountable for significant numbers of would-be voters. 

Given the critical nature of these needs, we strongly urge your support in preserving the $75 million allocated for election infrastructure in the Senate FSGG Fiscal Year 2024 bill. As we approach the 2024 presidential election cycle, we cannot afford to reduce funding for election offices and put at risk the cornerstone of our democracy. 
 
In the next appropriations process, we urge you to match the level of Federal investment in the last Presidential Election of $825 million in HAVA Security Grants, with two-thirds of the funding going directly to local elections offices. A study by MIT’s Election Lab found that ensuring the integrity and accessibility of our elections requires an investment of $50 billion over 10 years. The amount of $75 million over the past few budgets is a good start but far more is needed if we are to successfully prepare critical election infrastructure for the challenges ahead. We also urge you to include a requirement that a certain portion of future funding allocations be passed through directly to localities, where a good deal of election administration takes place, to ensure these frontline democracy workers have the resources they need to run safe, secure, and modern elections. 

We understand that federal resources are limited and face competing demands, but funding our election infrastructure is an investment in every facet of our lives; federal funding for elections will bolster voter confidence, ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard, and safeguard the integrity of our electoral process–all essential ingredients in a healthy democracy.
 
Thank you for your dedication to our democracy. We appreciate your consideration of this crucial request.  

Sincerely, 
See attached letter for full list of signatories