WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation to share election security information with our international allies. The Global Electoral Exchange Act would establish an international information sharing program on election security at the State Department. The program would allow for the U.S. and our international allies to exchange ideas related to best practices on issues like audits, disinformation campaigns, voter database protections and other issues critical to election administration. The bill also authorizes the State Department to provide grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations that specialize in election security and election administration for the purpose of exchanging information with similar organizations in partner countries.
“Election security is national security. Our intelligence community continues to warn that our elections—and those of our allies—are a target for adversaries,” Klobuchar said. “This bipartisan legislation will allow the State Department to work with our allies abroad to share information, discuss best practices, and combat the growing threat of election interference to democracies around the world.”
“The threats to our democratic electoral process and those of other democracies across the globe should not be taken lightly,” Sullivan said. “This legislation takes important steps to enhance collaboration between the United States and our allies to examine best practices and ensure future elections remain fair, free and absent of foreign interference.”
The Global Electoral Exchange Act will improve international election security by:
- Authorizing the Department to provide grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations that specialize in election security and election administration for the purpose of exchanging information with similar organizations in partner countries.
- Bringing foreign individuals who participate in election administration – from government officials, poll workers, members of the judiciary, and more –to the United States to study election procedure for educational purposes. Additionally, U.S. election administrators, experts, and officials will be invited to study how our allies are working to protect their democracies in light of new threats from countries like Russia and Iran.
- Maintaining a network “Global Electoral Exchange Program Alumni” at the State Department that will promote further exchanges of information. Every two years, the State Department will be required to brief the Rules Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee on the status of the program.
- Require biannual reports to the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Rules and Administration, and House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Administration.
Similar legislation passed via unanimous consent in the House of Representatives; it is sponsored by Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC).