Sponsors (16)
The bill delivers sustained federal funding, administration, and transparency to modernize elections and expand access—particularly for underserved and Tribal communities—but does so at substantial federal cost with new federal conditions, reporting burdens, and donor‑influence risks that constrain state flexibility and add administrative complexity.
State and local election officials receive predictable, multi-year federal funding (roughly $2.5B/year through 2035) to support election operations and modernization.
Voters in underserved communities (including racial/ethnic minorities, UOCAVA voters, and residents of Tribal and Alaska Native lands) gain expanded ballot access and improved election services through targeted investments to address geographic and racial disparities.
Election officials and poll workers benefit from funded nonpartisan recruitment, training, and legal/protective measures that improve staffing, continuity, and reduce threats to administrators.
Taxpayers bear substantial long-term costs (about $25 billion over 10 years) and the dedicated spending stream could reduce fiscal flexibility or increase deficits if not offset.
States and localities face new federal conditions and prohibitions (e.g., limits on certain audits and litigation restrictions) that constrain how they investigate fraud allegations or change local election administrators, reducing state flexibility in oversight.
Compliance, reporting, plan development, and consultation requirements create significant administrative burdens and legal exposure for state and local election officials.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal program and trust fund that provides $2.5 billion annually (FY2026–2035) to states for election administration, security, and voter access, conditional on approved state plans.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress July 31, 2025
Creates a federal program and Office to fund and support state election administration, security, and voter access. It establishes a dedicated Trust Fund with $2.5 billion per year from FY2026 through FY2035 to make allocations to states for activities like improving election operations, recruiting and protecting election officials and poll workers, and expanding access for underserved voters including UOCAVA voters and voters on Indian lands. States must submit an approved plan to receive funds, developed in consultation with both parties’ legislative leaders and approved by the Office after consultation and a written assessment from the Election Assistance Commission; the bill also defines key terms, sets procedural rules for deadlines, and includes a severability clause.