Sponsors (4)
The bill strengthens election resilience for voters and jurisdictions through planning, funding, and statutory protections for disaster response, but it increases federal spending and administrative burdens while risking uneven implementation and potential federal–state friction.
Voters (especially in disaster-affected areas) and election jurisdictions: clearer, coordinated continuity and contingency plans to keep elections running and reduce the risk of disrupted voting and delayed results.
State and local election officials: a predictable federal grant stream ($20M/year, 2026–2030) to plan and fund resiliency upgrades, equipment improvements, and system hardening.
Voters (including those in territories) and election administrators: statutory triggers, voter-education requirements, and hotlines so eligible voters know how and where to vote after a Presidential major disaster declaration.
State and local election officials and state governments: framing elections as critical infrastructure and expanded federal involvement may heighten federal–state tensions over election control and oversight.
Taxpayers and federal budget stakeholders: the $20M/year authorization (and related implementation costs) increases federal spending and could add to deficits or crowd out other priorities.
Small and resource-limited local jurisdictions and states: administrative burdens, mandated timelines, and uncovered upgrade costs mean many jurisdictions will bear added expenses and struggle to comply without more support.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Conditions HAVA funding on state disaster continuity plans for elections, mandates EAC resiliency grants ($20M/yr authorized FY2026–2030), and requires a GAO report on disasters' effects on voter registration by Sept 30, 2026.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Joseph Morelle · Last progress September 16, 2025
Requires states that receive federal election funds to prepare, update, retain, and (with privacy/security limits) publish continuity-of-operations plans for administering elections during major disasters; directs the EAC to award grants to strengthen election resiliency and authorizes $20 million per year from FY2026–2030 for that purpose; and orders a GAO study on how natural disasters affect voter registration and how federal resources could support elections in declared major disasters, with a report due by September 30, 2026. Defines "covered major disaster" as a presidentially declared major disaster that occurs during the voting period of a federal election and sets deadlines for plan submission and periodic updates through 2043.