summary
Introduced
05/14/2019
05/14/2019
In Committee
06/21/2019
06/21/2019
Crossed Over
06/28/2019
06/28/2019
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
SAFE Act Securing America's Federal Elections Act Securing America’s Federal Elections Act This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots. The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; (4) be manufactured in the United States; and (5) meet specified cybersecurity requirements, including the prohibition of the connection of a voting system to the internet. The National Science Foundation must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to states to replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots. States must carry out postelection risk-limiting audits for all federal elections, funded by the EAC. States may use elections requirements payments from the EAC to carry out activities related to election security. The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.
AI Summary
This bill, the Securing America's Federal Elections Act or the SAFE Act, addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots. Key provisions include:
- Requiring the use of voter-verified paper ballots that can be manually counted, with specific requirements for accessibility and durability.
- Establishing a grant program for states to replace non-compliant voting systems and carry out voting system security improvements.
- Requiring states to conduct post-election risk-limiting audits, with federal funding provided for these audits.
- Imposing cybersecurity requirements on voting systems, such as prohibiting wireless connectivity and Internet connections.
- Requiring the use of voting machines manufactured in the United States by November 2022.
- Providing for testing and certification of ballot marking devices to ensure voter verification.
The bill aims to enhance the security and integrity of federal elections through various measures related to voting equipment, auditing, and cybersecurity.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (13)
Zoe Lofgren (D)*,
Pete Aguilar (D),
Lisa Blunt Rochester (D),
G. Butterfield (D),
Jim Cooper (D),
Susan Davis (D),
Marcia Fudge (D),
Dan Kildee (D),
Al Lawson (D),
Lucy McBath (D),
Jamie Raskin (D),
Kilili Sablan (D),
Jeff Van Drew (R),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (on 06/28/2019)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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