DHS to Withhold Anti-Terrorism Funding Unless States Alter Election Rules
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will hold back part of federal anti-terrorism money from states unless they change their election rules. States must meet new election security requirements, like using paper ballots and checking voter citizenship, to receive the full grant funding.Key Facts
- DHS announced it will reduce some anti-terrorism grants if states don't adopt new election rules.
- The new rules include hand-marked paper ballots, voter-verifiable paper records, U.S. citizenship checks for voter registration, and post-election audits.
- This funding comes from the Homeland Security Grant Program, which gives over $1 billion nationwide yearly to help states with counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and emergency preparedness.
- States that fail to comply could lose up to 20% of their grant money, which could be over $200 million nationally.
- Many Republican-led states may already meet these requirements, so the new policy might affect Democratic-led states more.
- Some states might challenge the policy in court, arguing that election rules are a state matter and that Congress controls funding conditions.
- The policy links election security to homeland security funding, a significant step in federal influence over election laws.
- DHS says the measures improve election security, but election administration has traditionally been governed by states and Congress, not the executive branch.
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