House Republicans Plan to Vote Thursday on a Spending Bill that Excludes New Money for Election Security Grants to States, provoking a furious reaction from Democrats amid a National Controversy over Russian Election Interference.
At issue is a Grants Program overseen by the Federal Election Assistance Commission aimed at Helping States Administer their Elections and Improve Voting Systems.
Democrats want to continue Grant Funding through 2019, while Republicans say the Program already has been fully Funded.
Republicans argued strenuously in Floor Debate Wednesday that States had Plenty of Money from prior Congressional Allocations to Spend on Election Improvements. They say they fully funded those Grants, ending with the $380 Million Appropriated for the 2018 Budget year, which has been doled out to States but not fully spent.
Democrats said states would ask for more money if Congress made more available and that the only reason they haven’t spent it all is because they only just received it in some cases.
What the Republicans miss is, many States needs more money to replace old Voting Systems, that lack a Verifiable Paper Ballot, as well as Security Upgrades.
They also ignore the fact that to receive the Funds, each State must put up their own Funds of 5%.
New York received $19,483,647 of Grant Money, had to come up with $974,182 but added $1 Million, which gave the State $20,483,647 for upgrades of Security. They will begin Soliciting Contracts from Companies that will Assess the Cyber-Security Risks of State's Voting Systems and help Improve Internet Firewalls for County Boards of Elections. Gov. Cuomo said the State's "Secure Election Center," Managed by the State Board of Elections, will provide Uniform Cyber-Security Training to State and County Election Officials this year. The Contracts will be Handled by the State Office of General Services on behalf of the State's Board of Elections. One of the Contracts will also seek a Vendor to provide Enhanced Intrusion-Detection Systems and Managed Security Services for County Boards of Elections.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
