NACo urges Congress to protect HAVA Election Security Grants in FY 2027
Key Takeaways
On June 2, NACo sent a letter to House and Senate congressional leaders and the Senate Finance Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee urging Congress to maintain strong federal investment in election administration and security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 FSGG appropriations bill. As counties, we administer the nation’s elections in nearly every congressional district, and we do so largely with local taxpayer dollars and limited federal support.
What NACo is asking for
- Restore HAVA Election Security Grants to $45 million: The House-passed Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2027 (H.R. 8495) provides just $15 million, $30 million below the FY 2026 enacted level. NACo is urging the Senate to restore funding to at least the $45 million floor.
- Sustain U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) funding: The EAC is preparing the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.1 update, which will shape the next generation of voting system certification.
Why it matters
Election security is a layered investment in physical infrastructure, cybersecurity, workforce protection and continuity planning that we fund year-round. Off years like FY 2027 are when we prepare for presidential turnout, replacing aging equipment, training new staff, hardening facilities and running tabletop exercises. Cutting federal support now would force us to defer those investments heading into 2028.
What’s next
The Senate FSGG Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to begin marking up its FY 2027 bill in the coming weeks. NACo will continue working with congressional leaders and the appropriations committees and will keep counties updated as the process advances.
Check out NACo's FY2027 Appropriations Tracker to stay up-to-date
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