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Election Security Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-1540| Senate 
| Updated: 5/16/2019
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (40)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Rules and Administration Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Election Security Act of 2019 This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots. The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; and (4) be manufactured in the United States. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy. The EAC must award grants to states to (1) replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots; and (2) conduct risk-limiting audits. The bill provides for information sharing with states regarding threats to election infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security must issue a national strategy to protect against cyberattacks, influence operations, disinformation campaigns, and other activities that could undermine the security and integrity of democratic institutions. The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.
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Timeline
May 16, 2019
Introduced in Senate
May 16, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jun 28, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2660
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • May 16, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 16, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


  • June 28, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2660
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 116-1: For the People Act of 2019
  • HR 116-2722: Securing America’s Federal Elections Act
  • HR 116-2660: Election Security Act of 2019
  • HR 116-2652: Secure American-Made Voting Machines Act
  • HR 116-8697: Election Security Assessments Act
  • S 116-2053: SAFE Act
  • S 116-949: For the People Act of 2019
Accounting and auditingBuy American requirementsComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightDisability and paralysisElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationManufacturingPublic contracts and procurementState and local government operationsSubversive activitiesTechnology assessment

Election Security Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-1540| Senate 
| Updated: 5/16/2019
Election Security Act of 2019 This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots. The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; and (4) be manufactured in the United States. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy. The EAC must award grants to states to (1) replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots; and (2) conduct risk-limiting audits. The bill provides for information sharing with states regarding threats to election infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security must issue a national strategy to protect against cyberattacks, influence operations, disinformation campaigns, and other activities that could undermine the security and integrity of democratic institutions. The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 16, 2019
Introduced in Senate
May 16, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jun 28, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2660
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • May 16, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 16, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


  • June 28, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2660
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic Senator

Minnesota

Cosponsors (40)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Rules and Administration Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 116-1: For the People Act of 2019
  • HR 116-2722: Securing America’s Federal Elections Act
  • HR 116-2660: Election Security Act of 2019
  • HR 116-2652: Secure American-Made Voting Machines Act
  • HR 116-8697: Election Security Assessments Act
  • S 116-2053: SAFE Act
  • S 116-949: For the People Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingBuy American requirementsComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightDisability and paralysisElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationManufacturingPublic contracts and procurementState and local government operationsSubversive activitiesTechnology assessment