In einer Zeit, in der die Wahlfreiheit weiterhin in Gefahr ist, wird der Kongress im Rahmen des Haushaltsgesetzes eine Anzahlung leisten, um zusätzliche Mittel für Wahlbeamte im ganzen Land bereitzustellen, die mit einer Vielzahl von Bedrohungen und Hindernissen konfrontiert sind, wenn sie den Amerikanern helfen wollen, ihre Stimme an der Wahlurne zu Gehör zu bringen. Diese 1475 Millionen TP1T, die der Kongress bereitstellt, sind nur ein Bruchteil der Investitionen, die erforderlich sein werden, um unsere Wahlen und den Willen der Wähler vor Bedrohungen aus dem In- und Ausland zu schützen.

Elections officials continue to face ongoing attacks on our election infrastructure by hostile foreign governments, but in the wake of the former president’s Big Lie, they also face threats and harassment from fellow citizens as well – from death threats to coordinated nuisance document requests aimed at making it harder to do the already difficult work of running our elections.

Nonpartisan election officials throughout the country have spoken up to ask for Congress to prioritize additional resources for state and local elections. They need Congress to make significant investments so we can ensure that voting continues to be safe, accessible, and secure in 2023 and beyond.

Americans expect and deserve free and fair elections. Ensuring that they remain free and fair involves officials at every level, and it involves significant and sustained funding and expertise from the federal government. Small town, and even big city, election officials are too often overwhelmed when they go up against sophisticated foreign intelligence agencies. And the threats to our nation’s elections have grown within our own borders. Providing consistent funding, assistance, expertise, training, and information to those officials must continue so all Americans can continue to have their voices heard and votes counted.