STEADFAST Act

Key Points

• This bill ends the existing program that uses taxpayer dollars to fund presidential election campaigns and party conventions. Any money left in the old Presidential Election Campaign Fund would be moved into a new Election Security Fund.
• A new grant program would let states use the money to buy voting equipment, boost cybersecurity, secure paper ballots, protect electronic poll books, and modernize voting systems. States cannot use the money for lawsuits or most staff training.
• To qualify for grants, states must certify they do not allow noncitizens to vote. Priority goes to states that require photo ID at polling places, use paper ballots for audits, and use federal verification systems to ensure noncitizens are not registered.
• The taxpayer checkbox on federal income tax forms would still exist but would now direct money to the Election Security Fund instead of presidential campaigns. The form must also include a link to the Election Assistance Commission's website with details about the program.
• Companies selling election equipment to states must be certified by the Election Assistance Commission. Any vendor that previously gave private money to a state or local government to help run federal elections is banned from certification.