As Congress returns from recess, I am writing with concern about election funding levels. Congress appropriated just $1 million per state this year in perhaps the most important election in our lifetimes. In other years, Congress has appropriated nothing.
When states and local governments are left with the funding burden, our election administration is uneven. We are meant to be not only the world’s oldest modern democracy but the world’s most advanced democracy. We undercut the power of our example when we underfund elections and have disparate outcomes and access.
It’s essential we prioritize election funding in the FY ‘25 budget. Congress must appropriate no less than $75 million for election funding this year, the amount approved unanimously (27-0) by the bipartisan Senate appropriations committee. In future years, it should send more. Thank you for your time and effort.