Issue One’s bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity Co-chairs Call on Congress to Invest in U.S. Elections to Protect National Security

Co-chairs of Issue One’s bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity (NCEI) today called on Congress to invest in America’s critical election infrastructure to “protect our nation’s elections from foreign interference efforts and growing cybersecurity threats from China, Russia, Iran, and other adversaries.”

In a new letter addressed to key Republican and Democratic congressional appropriators, NCEI Co-chairs and former members of Congress Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Tim Roemer (D-IN), and Zach Wamp (R-TN) requested $400 million in Election Security Grants to strengthen elections and protect our national security.

“The Department of Homeland Security designated our election system as critical infrastructure in 2017,” the letter states. “However, that designation was not accompanied by regular or adequate federal funding. In each of the last two years, Congress appropriated just $75 million for Election Security Grants – a fraction of the funds needed to secure our elections in this dynamic threat environment.”

The letter continues: “In the last few years, state and local election officials have had to become experts in cybersecurity, digital communication, and public relations. At the same time, election offices are struggling to bear rising costs for physical security, information requests, and basic necessities like ballot paper. Because Congress has not provided the funding to meet these obligations, state and local election officials have been saddled with an unfunded mandate.”

Investing in elections now in advance of 2024 is a crucial step to help ensure that our elections remain secure, free, and fair.

The bipartisan national council, formed in advance of the 2020 election, is made up of 40 government, political, and civic leaders united in purpose to strengthen and defend the legitimacy of our elections.

Read the full letter and learn more about Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity.