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Cole Introduces the Protect American Election Administration Act

Press Release

By: Tom Cole
By: Tom Cole
Date: March 17, 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Elections

Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) today introduced the Protect American Election Administration Act. If enacted, this legislation would block the private takeover of government election administration, protect individual states' voting laws, prevent private funding for ballot harvesting or curing and prevent the use of election infrastructure to conduct ideologically motivated voter outreach campaigns.

"When Americans go to the ballot box to cast their votes, they should have full confidence in the election systems that exist and serve them within our great republic," said Cole. "After a tumultuous 2020 election cycle, it is clear that this confidence has taken a hit. That is why I introduced the Protect American Election Administration Act, which would prevent political agendas funded by private dollars from interfering with individual states' non-partisan voting processes while ensuring that eligible voters have voting access."

Original cosponsors of the Protect American Election Administration Act include Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Andy Harris (MD-01), John Rutherford (FL-04), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Tom Rice (SC-07), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Virginia Foxx (NC-05) and Greg Steube (FL-17).

Bill text is available here.

Background:

During the 2020 election, election administration in the United States was politically influenced because of multi-millions in private spending by private individuals with political agendas. In return, the private funds expended by many election administration offices were used to implement insecure voting methods, harvest or cure ballots and conduct extensive outreach campaigns to benefit the donors' preferred candidates. These funds were targeted in Democratic counties to increase turnout in areas that would be beneficial to Democratic candidates.


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