Homeland Security Committee Chairman commends election security reform proposal

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), commended the inclusion of an election security reforms in a bill introduced in the House last week.

The bill, the For the People Act (H.R. 1), would establish a series of reforms in the election process. Specifically, H.R. 1 would require that states use paper ballots and establish cybersecurity standards for voting systems vendors. Further, it would allow the federal government to provide grants for states to improve and maintain the security of their election systems. In addition, it would require the DNI to assess threats to election systems 180 days before an election and requires DHS and the Election Assistance Commission to issue recommendations to address threats. The bill also calls for the testing of voting systems nine months before an election. Additionally, the bill says the president should produce a national strategy for protecting democratic institutions. Finally, it would create a National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions.

“I am proud to have contributed to the creation of this legislation to strengthen our democracy and protect the integrity of our elections,” said Thompson, who sponsored the Election Security Act (H.R. 5011) in the last Congress. “With a mandate from the American people, the new House Democratic Majority is now finally in a position to pass legislation that will help secure our election infrastructure and help instill confidence in our democratic institutions. With passage of H.R. 1, we will be able to provide the support states need to protect the integrity of our elections against foreign interference, ensure confidence in election results by implementing risk-limiting audits, and trust that election infrastructure vendors are meeting appropriate security requirements.”

Thompson said Congress has done “far too little” to prevent foreign election meddling after Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the committee on House Administration, said H.R. 1 offers the most comprehensive democracy reforms in more than four decades. Federal election oversight is one of the primary tasks of the Committee on House Administration.

“The American people feel the political system is rigged against them – that their vote may not count or matter,” Lofgren said. “But in November, voters went to the polls to change the status quo. They voted to put an end to politics as usual. House Democrats are answering their call and delivering on our promise to bring accountability and transparency to Washington DC. The For the People Act promises to deliver the change that American voters demanded on November 6th.”

Among other provisions, H.R. 1 would create automatic voter registration across the country, ensure that individuals who have completed felony sentences have their full rights restored, expand voting by mail and early voting and modernize the U.S. voting system. It would also restore the Voting Rights Act, prohibit voter roll purges, ensure that discriminatory voter ID laws do not.

It also includes a provision that focuses on campaign finance reform requiring any organization involved in political activity to disclose its large donors. Additionally, it will allow for a multiple matching system for small donations from individuals.