Faces of Democracy members react to Senate’s investment in our nation’s critical election infrastructure

In response to today’s Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee markup, which allocated $75 million in federal funding for critical election infrastructure, members of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign issued the following statement:

“As public servants dedicated to ensuring that our elections remain free and fair, we commend the Senate for appropriating $75 million in election security grants for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. We appreciate this allocation as an initial investment, though we ask Congress to increase consistent federal funding to help us continue to safeguard the integrity of our democratic processes.

“The 2024 election alone will cost states over $5 billion to administer. Although state and local governments bear most of these expenses, federal elections take up prime real estate on the ballot and impose regulatory burdens. While the $75 million will help alleviate some financial pressures on state and local municipalities, it is imperative that Congress takes further action to ensure the federal government contributes its fair share. This will relieve the growing strain on local election officials and budgets, securing the future of our democracy.”

Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign represents a full spectrum of bipartisan and nonpartisan election officials from across the country. From secretaries of state to county clerks, registrars, and poll workers, it is the most prominent group advocating on behalf of election workers in America. The following members from across the country have co-signed this statement:

• Nataile Adona, Nevada County, CA Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters
• Cisco Aguilar, Nevada Secretary of State
• David B. Bjerke, Falls Church, VA Director of Elections & General Registrar
• Bruce Brown, City of Alexandria, VA Electoral Board Secretary
• Isaac Cramer, Charleston County, SC Board of Voter Registration and Elections Executive Director
• Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County, NY Commissioner of Elections
• Cathy Darling Allen, Shasta County, CA Clerk and Registrar of Voters (Ret.)
• Tate Fall, Cobb County, GA Director of Elections
• Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State
• Kenneth R. Hamm Sr, Clark County, NV Poll Worker
• Brianna Lennon, Boone County, MO Clerk
• Amber McReynolds, Former Colorado Election Official
• Omar Sabir, Philadelphia, PA Chairman and City Commissioner
• Natalie Tennant, Former West Virginia Secretary of State
• Tonya Wichman, Defiance County, OH Director Board of Elections
• Wesley Wilcox, Marion County, FL Supervisor of Elections