U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) is thrilled that the Garden State will nab a nice chunk of the $380 million designated for election technology and security improvements that is included in the nation’s newly signed government funding package.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on March 27 announced that Rep. Lance’s home state of New Jersey will receive a grant award of roughly $9.75 million of the total $380 million provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, H.R. 1625, which President Donald Trump signed into law on March 23.
Rep. Lance voted to approve the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill partly because it included funding for the Election Security Grant Program awards under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, according to his office.
“Our sacred electoral process must be protected,” said Rep. Lance, who commended the EAC for supporting states and territories in securing the integrity of the United States election system.
“The purpose of the grant awards is to assist states with activities to improve the administration of elections for federal office, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements,” as authorized under HAVA, wrote Brian Newby, executive director of the EAC, in a March 27 letter to Rep. Lance announcing New Jersey’s grant award.
HAVA Election Security Grant Program funds may be used by states to: replace outdated voting equipment, implement post-election audit systems, upgrade computer systems used in elections, provide cybersecurity training to state and local officials, or establish cybersecurity best practices for election systems, according to Newby’s letter.
“Cyber threats and hostile actors around the world consider our democracy a prime target,” said Rep. Lance. “Election security must be taken very seriously.”
Each state’s grant award was determined using a formula outlined in HAVA and each state must match 5 percent of the federal funds awarded within two years of their award, according to EAC guidelines.
“I trust the excellent county and local officials who are constitutionally tasked with administering our elections and I hope and expect that federal assistance will be put to effective use,” said Rep. Lance.