A new federal program would send $2.5 billion per year to states for ten years (2026–2035) to improve how elections are run across the country. States would use the money to upgrade voting equipment, strengthen cybersecurity, expand early and mail voting options, open more polling places, and recruit and protect election workers. The bill specifically targets better voting access for underserved communities, people with disabilities, racial and language minorities, overseas military voters, and tribal communities. To get funding, each state must submit a plan showing how it will spend the money and address geographic and racial disparities in its election system. The bill also creates a new independent federal office — the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation — to oversee the program and review state plans. States are explicitly banned from using the funds for voter intimidation, purging voters from rolls without reliable evidence, defending against voter-suppression lawsuits, or buying voting machines that don't use paper ballots. A formal complaint process lets anyone challenge misuse of the funds, with the option to escalate all the way to federal court.
Congressional Summary
Sustaining Our Democracy ActThis bill establishes and provides funds through FY2035 for the State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund for purposes of promoting election activities.Specifically, the bill establishes the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program, through which the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation (also established by this bill) shall make allocations to states for carrying out democracy promotion activities. These activities include improving the administration of federal elections, recruiting and training nonpartisan election officials and poll workers, and increasing voting access.The bill requires each state, in order to receive allocated funds, to (1) submit a plan for approval that describes how the state will distribute resources and carry out democracy promotion activities, and (2) establish uniform and nondiscriminatory state-based administrative complaint procedures.The bill prohibits states from using funds for certain activities, including any activity that diminishes the ability of any eligible voter to participate in the electoral process.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-07-31
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09