Sponsors (57)
Official title: To establish a democracy advancement and innovation program, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Nikema Williams · Last progress August 5, 2025
The bill provides substantial, sustained federal funding and protections to strengthen election infrastructure, expand access (especially for underserved and tribal communities), and improve transparency and administration, but it increases federal influence and conditions over election spending, creates new compliance burdens for states, and carries significant federal cost and fiscal risk.
State and local election officials (and thus voters) gain sustained, predictable federal funding that can be used to upgrade voting equipment, improve cybersecurity, and modernize election infrastructure.
Voters in underserved communities — including tribal and Alaska Native lands and UOCAVA voters — get expanded access through funded outreach, early and mail voting expansion, and explicit inclusion of tribal lands in program eligibility.
Protections against voter intimidation, improper removals from rolls, and unsafe audit practices help safeguard voters' ability to participate and preserve election integrity.
Federal conditions, a politically appointed Office with removal protections, and grant-conditional requirements risk centralizing influence over election investments and could lead to withheld funds or jurisdictional disputes with states.
The program represents a large federal spending commitment (multi‑billion-dollar stream), meaning taxpayers bear significant cost and it could contribute to higher deficits or shifted federal spending priorities.
States and localities face new administrative burdens and costs to prepare detailed plans, reporting, complaint procedures, and overall fund management to comply with program rules.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal election assistance program and trust fund with $2.5B/year (FY2026–2035) to fund election security, access, outreach, and election worker support.
Creates a federal Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program and an Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation to give annual grants to States, territories, and DC for election security, voter access, outreach, and support for election workers. Establishes a Treasury trust fund with a fixed annual appropriation of $2.5 billion for fiscal years 2026–2035 to pay for the program and related Office activities. States must submit plans approved by the program Director (in consultation with the Election Assistance Commission) to receive funds; plans must be developed with input from the State legislature's majority and minority leaders. The bill defines program terms, sets timing rules for deadlines, allows States to carry over funds, and includes a severability clause.