FOLLOWING BLUNT AND KLOBUCHAR CALLS, ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION TO EXPAND USES OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO COMBAT THREATS AGAINST ELECTION WORKERS

Press Release

This week, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Ranking Member and Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, released the following statements after the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) voted unanimously to expand the use of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding to protect election workers and officials against threats.

"State and local election officials and administrators work tirelessly to ensure elections are secure and accessible. The last thing they should have to worry about is their personal safety," said Blunt. "Chairwoman Klobuchar and I are continuing to work together to address the totally unacceptable threats to election officials. Congress has worked in a bipartisan way to provide significant funding to states through the Help America Vote Act, with the flexibility to use funds to address the unique needs of each election jurisdiction. I appreciate the Election Assistance Commission responding to our request and providing the guidance necessary for states to use the resources they have available to further strengthen election security."

"Election administrators and workers are facing a barrage of threats from those seeking to undermine our elections," said Klobuchar. "We need to respond to these threats head on and make sure that election workers are able to do their jobs free from intimidation or improper influence. It's an important step that the Election Assistance Commission is acting on our call to help ensure those who are on the frontlines defending our democracy are protected."

In March, Blunt and Klobuchar urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to prioritize and expedite a legal opinion the EAC had requested on how HAVA funding could be used to ensure the security of election officials. Following the release of GAO's legal opinion, Blunt and Klobuchar called on the EAC to issue guidance on approved spending of HAVA funds to improve the security of state and local elections through personal security services and social media threat monitoring.

Last November, Blunt and Klobuchar called on the EAC to provide information to state and local election officials on the resources available to them through HAVA funding to improve safety for election officials, administrators, workers, and facilities, and to provide guidance on how resources could be used to identify and respond to threats. In April, Blunt and Klobuchar requested an update on the EAC's efforts to support state and local election officials with administering the 2022 midterm elections, including protecting election workers against threats.

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