US S1540

Bill

US S1540

Election Security Act of 2019

Introduced
05/16/2019

In Committee
05/16/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

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; and (4) be manufactured in the United States. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) 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 EAC must award grants to states to (1) 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; and (2) conduct risk-limiting audits. The bill provides for information sharing with states regarding threats to election infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security must issue a national strategy to protect against cyberattacks, influence operations, disinformation campaigns, and other activities that could undermine the security and integrity of democratic institutions. 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 Election Security Act of 2019, addresses election security through various grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots. Key provisions include: - Requiring voting systems to use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots and ensuring accessibility for voters with disabilities. - Providing grants to states to replace certain voting systems, carry out security improvements, and implement best practices for ballot design and auditing. - Establishing a risk-limiting audit program and providing grants to states to conduct such audits. - Creating an election infrastructure innovation grant program to fund research and development to improve election security, quality, and accessibility. - Designating election infrastructure as critical infrastructure and requiring the Department of Homeland Security to provide timely threat information and security assessments to states. - Establishing a national strategy and commission to protect democratic institutions from cyber attacks, influence operations, and disinformation campaigns. - Requiring testing of existing voting systems to ensure compliance with election cybersecurity guidelines and decertifying non-compliant systems. - Establishing an election security bug bounty program to identify and report vulnerabilities.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (41)

Amy Klobuchar (D)*, Tammy Baldwin (D), Michael Bennet (D), Richard Blumenthal (D), Cory Booker (D), Sherrod Brown (D), Ben Cardin (D), Tom Carper (D), Bob Casey (D), Chris Coons (D), Catherine Cortez Masto (D), Tammy Duckworth (D), Dick Durbin (D), Dianne Feinstein (D), Kirsten Gillibrand (D), Kamala Harris (D), Maggie Hassan (D), Martin Heinrich (D), Mazie Hirono (D), Doug Jones (D), Tim Kaine (D), Angus King (I), Patrick Leahy (D), Ed Markey (D), Jeff Merkley (D), Chris Murphy (D), Patty Murray (D), Gary Peters (D), Jack Reed (D), Jacky Rosen (D), Bernie Sanders (I), Brian Schatz (D), Chuck Schumer (D), Jeanne Shaheen (D), Tina Smith (D), Debbie Stabenow (D), Jon Tester (D), Tom Udall (D), Chris Van Hollen (D), Mark Warner (D), Elizabeth Warren (D),

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (on 05/16/2019)

Official Document

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1540/all-info

(8 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1540/all-info
BillText	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1540/BILLS-116s1540is.pdf
Bill	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1540/BILLS-116s1540is.pdf.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
HR1	For the People Act of 2019	Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 39.	Related
HR2652	Secure American-Made Voting Machines Act	Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.	Related
HR2660	Election Security Act of 2019	Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.	Related
HR2722	SAFE Act Securing America's Federal Elections Act	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.	Related
HR8697	Election Security Assessments Act	Referred to the House Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select).	Related
HRes460	Providing for consideration of the bill (H.B. 2722) to protect elections for public office by providing financial support and enhanced security for the infrastructure used to carry out such elections, and for other purposes; waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.B. 3351) making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fi	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.	Similar To
S2053	SAFE Act Securing America’s Federal Elections Act	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.	Related
S949	For the People Act of 2019	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.	Related

Bill > S1540

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Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (41)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

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