Sustaining Our Democracy Act

This bill, titled the "Sustaining Our Democracy Act," establishes a new Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program to provide financial allocations to states for improving the administration of federal elections. It also creates an independent federal entity, the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation , led by a Senate-confirmed Director, to administer this program. The primary goal is to enhance election efficiency, security, and accessibility across the nation. States receiving funds through this program can engage in various democracy promotion activities . These include upgrading voting equipment and voter registration systems, enhancing cybersecurity, expanding polling places and early/mail voting options, and conducting nonpartisan voter outreach. Funds can also be used to recruit, train, and retain nonpartisan election officials and poll workers, as well as to protect them from threats. A key focus is increasing voting access for underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, racial and language minority groups, overseas citizens, and voters on Indian lands. To receive an allocation, states must submit a detailed State plan to the Director, developed in consultation with state legislative leaders, outlining how funds will be used and distributed, including addressing geographic and racial disparities. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of funds for activities that diminish voter ability, such as voter intimidation, restricting food/drink at polls, removing election administrators without cause, defending voter-suppression lawsuits, or investigating voter fraud based on mere suspicion. It also bans purchasing voting machines without individual voter-verifiable paper ballots and prohibits unreliable voter roll removals. The program is funded by a newly established State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund in the Treasury, which will receive an appropriation of $2.5 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2035. State allocations are determined by multiplying a congressional district allocation amount by the number of congressional districts in the state. The Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation will oversee the Trust Fund and program, with the Director having the authority to establish regulations and ensure compliance, including through state-based administrative complaint procedures and potential Attorney General action for violations.