Jim Zeigler: The imperative of adequate election security funding

We are all-too familiar with federal spending of our tax dollars that can be unnecessary and wasteful. There are basic areas of federal spending that are constitutional and necessary – defense, border security, the court system, highways, and disaster relief. Sometimes these types of necessary funding need to be increased.

One area of spending that should be added to the necessary list is the cost of running our election system. Without fair and accurate elections, our constitutional republic could be at risk.

As Congress deliberates on appropriations for fiscal year 2025, our election system faces a critical moment. Funding decisions made in the upcoming months will either ensure well-equipped state and county election offices and bolster public trust in the electoral process or potentially leave election officials struggling with insufficient resources. It is essential for Congress to understand the challenges our election system faces and allocate adequate funding.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, including our own Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), secured $75 million for election infrastructure grants in the current version of the FY 2025 FSGG appropriations bill. This investment is a pivotal step forward, but it falls short when compared to the $400 million allocated for election security under the Trump administration.

Hostile foreign nations like China, Russia, and Iran are using increasingly sophisticated methods to meddle in American elections. With artificial intelligence and other technologies rapidly evolving, ransomware attacks and misinformation strategies are becoming more advanced, putting our voter data, election results, and overall electoral integrity at significant risk. These emerging threats not only compromise the security of our elections but also erode public trust in the election process.

Threats to our election system are not new. Over a decade ago, I supported Alabama’s first Voter Fraud Task Force to investigate emerging threats to the integrity of our elections. Since then, both domestic and foreign threats have only increased, emphasizing the urgent need for the government to bolster our defenses. Increased investment is essential to equip our election offices with the updated equipment and tools necessary to counter these advanced threats effectively.

Given the urgency of election security, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal partners have recognized election infrastructure as critical infrastructure. We must pass a federal spending package that reflects this priority.

Given that there were zero dollars set aside for election security in the House version of the FSGG appropriations bill, I thank Senator Britt for voting in favor of $75 million for election infrastructure in the Senate version and steering it through her committee. This investment is crucial for maintaining the reliability of our election offices. While $75 million is a good starting point, I urge a more robust investment to fully address our election security needs.

I encourage our congressional delegation to support increased federal investment that mirrors the urgent needs of our election offices. A proper investment in election infrastructure will reinforce our defense measures and preserve public trust. While our nation remains divided on many issues, we must unite to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of our elections.

The costs of accurate and safe elections is a price we pay to maintain our constitutional republic.

Jim Zeigler served as State Auditor in Alabama from 2015 – 2023.