About
About Election Infrastructure Initiative
The Election Infrastructure Initiative is a non-partisan effort led by local elections officials that advocates for $20 billion in federal investments over the next decade to address the chronic underfunding of American election systems.
This funding is essential for improving cybersecurity, and ensuring that local election offices have the necessary resources to maintain secure and reliable elections. Without consistent federal investment, local election officials are left on their own to counter cyber attacks from foreign adversaries and ensure the integrity of elections run with aging machinery.
The Department of Homeland Security has designated election systems as critical infrastructure and warned that without increased federal support, our systems are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats. While county governments provide the overwhelming share of local election administration costs, without meaningful federal investment, many locals cannot afford to implement security best-practices to respond to these threats.
To meet this demonstrated need, local election offices need $2 billion per year in federal investment to be fully funded, yet federal funding has varied significantly over the last two administrations.
These inconsistent and declining investments are leaving local election officials struggling to keep up with increasing cybersecurity threats and outdated equipment, putting the integrity of future elections at serious risk.
In FY 2018, $380 million was allocated, followed by $425 million in FY 2020, plus an additional $400 million from the CARES Act for election security. However, in FY 2021, no new funding was provided, relying solely on the CARES Act funding roll-over. This trend continued with only $75 million allocated in FY 2022 and FY 2023. Most recently, in FY 2024, funding was reduced further to just $55 million—falling far short of the resources needed to secure and modernize election infrastructure.
Join us in support of the urgent need for increased and reliable federal investment to ensure the security of our elections.
Our Team
Keara Mendez
Director of Advocacy
Gideon Cohn-Postar
Senior Advisor for Election Infrastructure
Press Hits
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“This funding shortfall leaves election officials with the difficult task of managing a range of rising security challenges as well as administering elections without up-to-date technology and the staff to support them.”
LaVonne Griffin-Valade, Oregon Secretary of State
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“Election security has increasingly become a national security issue…Yet for all that, federal funding to combat these threats has not matched the urgency of this critical designation — not even close.”
Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk, Michigan
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“Investments in our election infrastructure should be seen as investments in national security.”
Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Election Officials
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“The cybersecurity threat to our elections has never been greater. County elections departments need enhanced, ongoing funding support from Congress so we can ensure safe and secure voting systems and voter registration databases.”
Joe Simitian, Santa Clara County Supervisor; 50 STATES OF NEED–How We Can Fully Fund Our State and Local Election Infrastructure
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“Federal funding for elections will bolster voter confidence, ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard, and safeguard the integrity of our electoral process—all essential ingredients in a healthy democracy.”
Letter to Congress from 60+ election officials
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“Over the years, foreign adversaries have significantly escalated their cyber activities in efforts to disrupt our democratic processes…As Congress continues to deliberate fiscal year 2025 appropriations, now is the time to reinvest in our election security.”
Jason Nemes, State Representative and House Majority Whip, Kentucky
The Election Infrastructure Initiative is a project of the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) and the Institute for Responsive Government (IRG). CTCL is a nonpartisan nonprofit that connects Americans with the information they need to become and remain civically engaged and ensure that our elections are more professional, inclusive, and secure. IRG is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring state and federal governments work effectively for the very people they serve. IRG provides data, research and expertise to elected officials in order to find practical policy solutions that make government systems more efficient, accessible, and responsive.