DHS Mandates Common-Sense Election Security for Federal Funds

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires states to implement specific election security measures to receive certain federal funds. These measures include verifying voters' citizenship using a federal system and adopting hand-marked paper ballots. The department aims to ensure election integrity with these requirements.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that states must implement "common-sense election security measures" to qualify for specific federal funding. This directive was revealed on Friday, targeting preparedness grants related to terrorist threats.

States must use a federal citizenship verification system and adopt hand-marked paper ballots to align with these new requirements. These changes are conditions for state access to a portion of federal emergency grants, totaling around $1.1 billion.

As midterm elections approach, the DHS emphasizes these steps are crucial for preserving election integrity, amidst ongoing conversations regarding electoral fraud claims.