Sec. 203. Grant program for upgrading voting systems
492 words·~2 min read·
/bill/115/s/2035/is/section-203A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary, acting in conjunction with a sector specific agency, shall award grants to States to assist in the development of security solutions for State voting systems. Subject to paragraph (2), a grant awarded under this section shall be used by a State to upgrade the voting systems of the State to ensure the security and integrity of the physical, electronic, and administrative components of the voting system based upon the threat assessment conducted, and recommended best practices developed, under section 202.
A State receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds solely to implement the recommended best practices developed under section 202, or alternative practices that are equivalent to or exceed such best practices subject to certification described in subsection (c)(3), before using the grant to carry out any other uses described in paragraph (1). A State seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
An application submitted under paragraph
(1)shall include, at a minimum— an explanation of how the State will use the grant funds to implement the best practices developed by the Secretary under section 202; an explanation of how the State will update and secure the election machines, vote tally systems, voter registration databases, and voting administration procedures of the State from electronic and physical threats; and a description of— the plans of the State for pre- and post-election security and accuracy audits; the methods to be implemented by the State for preserving a durable record of votes cast; and in the case of a State that chooses to implement an alternative practice that meets or exceeds the best practices, and a certification pursuant to paragraph (3), the reasons for not choosing the recommended best practices developed under section 202. A certification described in this paragraph is a certification that the State— has met the recommended best practices developed under section 202; or has adopted alternative practices for addressing risks, and the alternative practices have been verified by the National Association of Secretaries of State, National Association of State Election Directors, or National Institute of Standards and Technology as being equivalent to or exceeding the recommended best practices developed under section 202. Not later than 1 year after the first fiscal year in which a grant is awarded under this section, and each year thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department shall conduct an audit of each State that has received a grant during the previous fiscal year to evaluate whether the State has appropriately used the grant funds to upgrade and secure the voting system of the State by implementing the best practices identified in the approved application of the State. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are estimated in the report required to be submitted by the Secretary under section 202(c) to be necessary to carry out this section.