Sustaining Our Democracy Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a $25 billion trust fund ($2.5 billion per year for 10 years) to help states upgrade voting systems, secure election infrastructure, expand polling places, and promote cybersecurity. States receive allocations based on the number of congressional districts they have.
• Funds can be used to recruit, train, and protect poll workers and election officials from threats. The money also supports expanding early voting, mail voting, and voter outreach, with a focus on reaching underserved communities, people with disabilities, racial and language minorities, and voters on tribal lands.
• States must submit a plan showing how they will use funds and address geographic and racial disparities. If a state does not participate, local cities and counties can apply directly for funding.
• The bill bans states from using the funds for activities that suppress voting, such as intimidating voters, restricting food and water distribution at polling places, removing election administrators without cause, or purging voter rolls based on unreliable evidence.
• A new independent federal agency, the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation, would oversee the program. Its director serves a 6-year term and can only be removed by the president with written explanation to Congress. The office handles state plan approvals, complaint reviews, and reporting.