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As we welcome President Trump’s second term, conversations around government efficiency and fiscal responsibility are rightly taking center stage. While these discussions often focus on reducing unnecessary spending and eliminating waste, there is a critical area where strategic investment is not only warranted but essential: our election infrastructure.
Ensuring the integrity of our electoral process requires the same foresight and commitment we bring to maintaining roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure. As an Alabama state senator and a member of the Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, I have witnessed how targeted investments in infrastructure can drive efficiency, enhance security, and build public trust. These principles are just as relevant to elections as they are to roads and bridges.
During President Trump’s first administration, Congress recognized this need and allocated around $400 million annually to help shore up election security nationwide. These funds helped states like Alabama modernize outdated systems, strengthen cybersecurity, and address vulnerabilities in our voting infrastructure. However, the most recent appropriations cycle saw a troubling downturn in federal election security funding to just $55 million—a fraction of what is needed to meet the needs of our election offices nationwide.
Senator Katie Britt’s leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee is vital to ensuring Alabama remains a national model for fair and secure elections. Last year, the committee unanimously advanced an FY 2025 appropriations package with $75 million for election infrastructure grants – representing an important reversal from what we saw in the previous year. This funding is not yet final, and preserving these dollars in the final package is crucial. Senator Britt’s continued support will help us continue strengthening and safeguarding our electoral systems.
In Alabama, federal election security grants have been instrumental in bridging the gap for small, rural communities that lack the resources to modernize their election infrastructure on their own. This support ensures that every voter—regardless of location—has access to secure, reliable elections. At a time when foreign adversaries, like China and Iran are actively seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in our democratic process, these investments are more critical than ever.
As we continue the much-needed discussions about efficiency and fiscal responsibility in President Trump’s second term, we must recognize that election security is not an expense to be trimmed—it is an investment in the foundation of our democracy. Congress has an opportunity to prioritize federal funding for election security, safeguard our democratic process, and ensure that every American citizen can cast their vote with confidence.
