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The report, Measuring the Impact of Recent Grants to Election Administrators Under the Help America Vote Act, reviews federal Election Security Grants disbursed by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) since 2018. This report represents the first comprehensive effort to analyze the effects of this federal election funding on election administration.
In 2017, elections were designated as critical infrastructure. Since 2018, the EAC has distributed over $1 billion in congressionally appropriated Election Security Grants to the 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia, constituting one-fifth of all federal spending on election administration to date. This funding, authorized under Title I Section 101 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), was provided to give states additional resources to improve the administration of elections for federal office, including enhancing technology and making certain election security improvements.
Key Report Findings:
- Election officials interviewed for the report agreed that federal Election Security Grants help ensure they have the resources they need to run elections safely and securely. These funds have facilitated significant improvements in physical security, cybersecurity, voter accessibility, poll worker training, and communication with constituents.
- Some election officials noted that providing increased funding to election officials on a consistent basis would enable them to provide even better service to their voters, plan for long-term investments, and keep election equipment up-to-date and secure.
As of August 2024:
- States reported spending over $638 million (approximately 63%) of the more than $1 billion in appropriated Election Security funds.
- Over 98% of the remaining funds to be spent have been budgeted for planned activities.
- States have spent approximately $343 million (about 56% of the Election Security funds that have been spent) on voting equipment and cybersecurity—expenditures that are necessary to keep elections safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Funding mechanisms for elections vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. In general, elections are funded primarily by local governments, with some funding provided by state and federal support. The report focuses on the impact of federal funding for local election administration, specifically through HAVA-authorized Election Security Grants. It does not examine the ability of state and local entities to independently fund elections or the efficacy of state and local funding.