NASS Statement Thanking Congress for Recent Election Security Funding

For Immediate Release – Jan. 6, 2020 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress begins their session in the New Year, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) would like to thank them for including $425 million in election security funding in the recent bipartisan appropriations package. We appreciate the hard work of Senators, House Members and their staffs to aid state election officials in their constitutional duty to administer elections.

This money is a continuation of previous Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds. It will help states further prepare for the 2020 election and beyond by increasing cybersecurity protections, replacing aging voting equipment, hiring additional information technology staff and more.

“Ensuring the security and sanctity of our nation’s elections is a task my colleagues and I take very seriously. I would like to personally thank Members of Congress, particularly those on the Appropriations Committees, for prioritizing and allocating this recent funding. The $425 million will help states meet their unique needs to further invest in election security protections, personnel and systems,” said Paul Pate, NASS President and Iowa Secretary of State. “Our members have also called on Congress to consider stable federal funding that allows states to plan and implement election security enhancements to counter emerging cybersecurity threats.”

In the coming weeks, NASS members will hold calls with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on the timing and process for distributing these vital payments.

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Media Contact:
Maria (Dill) Benson, Director of Communications
mbenson@sso.org | 202-624-3528 | www.nass.org