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BlogNACo has published legislative analyses on two election-related bills unveiled ahead of the 2022 Midterm elections: the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act (S.NACo publishes analyses on new election reform bills
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Blog
NACo publishes analyses on new election reform bills
NACo has published legislative analyses on two election-related bills unveiled ahead of the 2022 Midterm elections: the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act (S. 4574) and the Sustaining Our Democracy Act (S. 4239)
Introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators led by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and in conjunction with the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act (S. 4573), S. 4574 includes several provisions related to threats against election workers and election mail services. This bill would:
- Double penalties for crimes against federally protected activities relating to voting and the conduct of elections, increase maximum penalties for individuals who willfully steal, destroy, conceal, mutilate or alter election records, and make it illegal to tamper with voting systems
- Provide best practices guidance for state and local governments for federal election mail, create optional standardized federal ballot mail parameters and features for states, and set requirements for ballot search and certification, federal election mail processing and requires postmark on all federal ballots
- Reauthorize the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for five years and require EAC to conduct cybersecurity testing and certification for voting systems
To access NACo’s full legislative analysis of the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act, click here.
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act (S. 4239), introduced by U.S. Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would allocate funds directly to county governments to support election administration. In doing so, this bill would:
- Establish a Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program that would allocate federal funds to each state to carry out “democracy promotion activities”
- Require a state to submit plans on how it intends to spend these funds and outline how funds will be allocated to political subdivisions, including counties, to carry out these activities
- Allow counties can submit their own plans and be allocated a portion of these funds in cases where states do not submit these plans
- Direct the EAC to distribute funds directly to local election administrators for activities that approved state plans intend to be administered by local government
To access NACo’s full legislative analysis of the Sustaining Our Democracy Act, click here.
In the United States, the nation’s 3,069 counties traditionally administer and fund elections at the local level, including overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections. County election officials work diligently with federal, state and other local election officials to ensure the safety and security of our voting systems. County election officials strive to administer elections in a way that is accurate, safe, secure and accessible for all voters. Counties will continue to work with our federal partners as they work to craft meaningful election reform.
NACo has published legislative analyses on two election-related bills unveiled ahead of the 2022 Midterm elections: the Enhanced Election Security and Protectio2022-08-24Blog2022-09-06 - Double penalties for crimes against federally protected activities relating to voting and the conduct of elections, increase maximum penalties for individuals who willfully steal, destroy, conceal, mutilate or alter election records, and make it illegal to tamper with voting systems
NACo has published legislative analyses on two election-related bills unveiled ahead of the 2022 Midterm elections: the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act (S. 4574) and the Sustaining Our Democracy Act (S. 4239)
Introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators led by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and in conjunction with the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act (S. 4573), S. 4574 includes several provisions related to threats against election workers and election mail services. This bill would:
- Double penalties for crimes against federally protected activities relating to voting and the conduct of elections, increase maximum penalties for individuals who willfully steal, destroy, conceal, mutilate or alter election records, and make it illegal to tamper with voting systems
- Provide best practices guidance for state and local governments for federal election mail, create optional standardized federal ballot mail parameters and features for states, and set requirements for ballot search and certification, federal election mail processing and requires postmark on all federal ballots
- Reauthorize the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for five years and require EAC to conduct cybersecurity testing and certification for voting systems
To access NACo’s full legislative analysis of the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act, click here.
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act (S. 4239), introduced by U.S. Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would allocate funds directly to county governments to support election administration. In doing so, this bill would:
- Establish a Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program that would allocate federal funds to each state to carry out “democracy promotion activities”
- Require a state to submit plans on how it intends to spend these funds and outline how funds will be allocated to political subdivisions, including counties, to carry out these activities
- Allow counties can submit their own plans and be allocated a portion of these funds in cases where states do not submit these plans
- Direct the EAC to distribute funds directly to local election administrators for activities that approved state plans intend to be administered by local government
To access NACo’s full legislative analysis of the Sustaining Our Democracy Act, click here.
In the United States, the nation’s 3,069 counties traditionally administer and fund elections at the local level, including overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections. County election officials work diligently with federal, state and other local election officials to ensure the safety and security of our voting systems. County election officials strive to administer elections in a way that is accurate, safe, secure and accessible for all voters. Counties will continue to work with our federal partners as they work to craft meaningful election reform.

About Paige Mellerio (Full Bio)
Associate Legislative Director – Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs
Paige is NACo's associate legislative director for finance, pensions and intergovernmental affairs.More from Paige Mellerio
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Reports & Toolkits
Legislative Analysis for Counties: Sustaining Our Democracy Act
U.S. Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Sustaining Our Democracy Act (S. 4239) to establish a new Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program that would make payments to state and local governments to improve the administration of elections and access to voting. -
Reports & Toolkits
Legislative Analysis For Counties: Enhanced Election Security & Protection Act
Introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and in conjunction with the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act (S. 4573), S. 4574 includes several provisions related to threats against election workers and election mail services.
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Blog
The County Countdown – August 29, 2023
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. Watch the video and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we are covering this week. -
Blog
The county role in elections remains critical as U.S. commemorates National Poll Worker Recruitment Day
August 23, 2023, has been established by the U.S. -
County News
Poll workers remain a must-have for election officials
Despite all of his worries about the pandemic and the vulnerable age of many of his poll workers in Williamson County, Texas, Election Administrator Chris Davis made it through 2020 successfully in a state where limited vote-by-mail options put pressure on in-person voting. The aftermath, however, has been different. -
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Supreme Court safeguards the county role in federal elections administration in landmark Moore v. Harper decision
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Moore v. Harper, a historic election law case. -
Blog
U.S. Election Assistance Commission recognizes county excellence in 2022 Clearinghouse Awards
On May 23, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission announced the winners of its 2022 Clearinghouse (“Clearie”) awards, recognizing 24 jurisdictions for its election administration practices during the 2022 primary and midterm elections. -
Blog
U.S. Senators reintroduce legislation aimed to protect local election officials
On April 28, U.S. Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) re-introduced the Election Worker Protection Act (S.
Contact
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Associate Legislative Director – Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs(202) 942-4272
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Legislative Associate(202) 942-4224
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Related Resources
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Reports & ToolkitsEvolving Elections: How State Legislation Will Impact the County Role in Election AdministrationNov. 8, 2022
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