Sustaining Our Democracy Act
Summary
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act aims to establish a Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program. This program would allocate funds to states for democracy promotion activities, including improving election administration, securing election infrastructure, and increasing voter access. It also establishes an Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation to oversee the program and a State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund to finance it.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the bill would provide funding to states to improve their election systems and promote voter participation. It could lead to more secure and efficient elections, as well as increased access to voting for underserved communities. The creation of a new federal office would centralize oversight of these efforts.
Potential Benefits
- Improved election administration through upgrades to voting equipment and voter registration systems.
- Increased voter access, particularly for underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, and racial and language minority groups.
- Enhanced security of voting locations and promotion of cybersecurity measures.
- Recruitment, training, and retention of nonpartisan election officials and poll workers.
- Protection of election officials from threats and intimidation.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for partisan disputes over the allocation and use of funds.
- Creation of a new federal office, which could lead to increased bureaucracy and administrative costs.
- Risk of funds being used for activities that have the purpose or effect of diminishing the ability of eligible voters to participate in the electoral process, despite prohibitions.
- Possible legal challenges to the Act's provisions.
- Potential for delays in disbursement of funds to states requiring legislative changes to establish the required fund.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's focus on promoting voter access and securing elections aligns with the Constitution's emphasis on representative democracy. Article 1, Section 2 outlines the election of representatives. However, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, raising questions about the extent to which the federal government can regulate state election administration. The bill attempts to balance these concerns by providing funding and guidance while allowing states to administer elections.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).