Legislation introduced in the House last week aims to protect U.S. elections against foreign interference and malicious attacks.
The Election Security Act, introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), includes seven provisions.
The bill establishes cybersecurity standards for voting systems vendors, creates a National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, requires states to use paper ballots, requires voting systems be tested nine months before an election, and requires the president to create a national strategy for protecting democratic institutions.
The bill also requires the Director of National Intelligence to assess threats to election systems 180 days before an election and requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission to issue recommendations to address the threats.
Additionally, the bill would fund grants provided to states for improving and maintaining the security of election systems, conducting cybersecurity training to election officials and implementing post-election risk limiting audits.
“With the 2020 elections just 18 months away, we cannot afford to be complacent about the security of our elections,” Thompson said. “Nothing less than the integrity of our democracy is at stake. Russia successfully attacked our elections in 2016, and it is clear they will try to again next year.”