Following Senator’s Calls on Appropriators, Election Assistance Commission to Make Funds Available to PA
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to help support stronger, more secure election systems in Pennsylvania and around the country, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), called on federal appropriators to support the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the independent, bipartisan commission that works with state and local election officials to improve federal election administration. Specifically, Casey requested an increase in EAC funding to give states the resources they need to ensure we have accurate, secure and accessible elections.
Following the passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018, Pennsylvania was awarded $13,476,156 in federal grant funds to enhance election technology and to make election security improvements.
Specifically, this funding can be used to:
- Replace voting equipment that only records a voter’s intent electronically with equipment that utilizes a voter-verified paper record;
- Implement a post-election audit system that provides a high level of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally;
- Upgrade election-related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities identified through Department of Homeland Security or similar scans or assessments of existing election systems; and
- Facilitate cybersecurity training for the state chief election official’s office and local election officials.
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