The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that states must implement specific election security measures to receive full funding from the Homeland Security Grant Program. The new guidance, released Friday, requires states to certify compliance with five key requirements to avoid losing 20% of their grant allocation.
Core Requirements
States seeking DHS funding must:
- Use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to verify voter eligibility.
- Confirm the citizenship of poll workers.
- Conduct a manual audit of at least 5% of all ballots cast in federal elections.
- Match the number of ballots to the number of voters.
- Move away from systems that rely on barcoded ballots.
Reactions and Context
The move has sparked debate among state officials and legal experts. Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore criticized the DHS guidance, calling it an "intimidation letter" from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Amore argued that the administration's actions undermine trust in election processes and are unconstitutional overreaches.
The DOJ letter, sent to all 50 states, threatens criminal prosecution for election officials who knowingly allow non-citizens to vote. The letter was part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape election policies, including the recent ousting of all three sitting members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Funding Implications
The Homeland Security Grant Program distributes billions annually to support counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and emergency preparedness. The new policy could withhold up to 20% of funding from non-compliant states, totaling approximately $1.064 billion nationwide in 2026.
Legal experts note that the move could face challenges, as courts have previously blocked portions of the administration's election-related executive orders. The policy represents one of the most significant efforts to tie federal funding to state election administration changes.