The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 16, 2025

The Brennan Center for Justice released its annual survey of local election officials.  It found continued concerns for threats, intimidation and violence against poll workers, and the loss of election security funding and staff now that the Trump administration has cut federal election security grants.

The survey of over 800 municipal election officials found 60% were very or somewhat concerned about federal cuts to election security services.  We reported in March on DOGE cuts of 300 cybersecurity experts from CISA, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, and the suspension of grant funding to states for hardening systems to fight increasing cyber attacks from Russia, China and Iran.  

Of the surveyed officials, 62% were concerned by the loss of CISA’s direct technical support, and 80% said the federal government should be providing the same or more funding, not less.

One third of local election officials are very concerned about political leaders interfering with the work of poll workers, up 4% from a similar question in 2023.  An additional one quarter are somewhat worried about interference. 

Officials overwhelmingly, 81%, are concerned about false election information spread on social media, which contributes to 38% of local election officials saying they have been harassed, abused or threatened – for just doing their job.   

We have links to the full Brennan Center survey at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – Key Findings – Local Election Officials Survey — July 2025
American Democracy Minute – (2023)  Brennan Center Survey Shows Election Workers Concerned for Threats, Funding & Political Interference in Future Elections
American Democracy Minute – CISA Pauses All Election Security Programs for Full Review.  Hint:  It’s Not About Election Integrity, It’s Reprisal for Telling the Truth.
American Democracy Minute – DOGE Cuts 300 Experts From CISA’s Election Security Team and U.S. Agency Cybersecurity; Funding for State Cybersecurity Also Suspended
InfoSecurity Magazine –  Trump Administration Shakes Up CISA with Staff and Funding Cuts

Groups Taking Action:

Protect Democracy, IssueOne, Election Official Legal Defense Network

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers #ElectionOfficials

The post Local Election Officials Concerned by Trump Cuts to Election Security Funding and Personnel, According to New Survey appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 18, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Yesterday, we reported on government warnings of foreign election interference by Russia and other actors. But after years of GOP demands for “election integrity” reforms, majority members of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee last week eliminated election security funding from the 2025 budget.

Election security includes everything from protection of voters and election workers, to upgrading voting machines and infrastructure, to keeping domestic and foreign actors from hacking that infrastructure.

The vehicle for that funding is Help America Vote Act grants, for which States Newsroom reports $55 Million dollars was appropriated in the last funding cycle. HAVA helps states fund big ticket items like voting machine upgrades, development of online voter registration portals, or hardening infrastructure against attacks. The Biden administration asked for $96 million dollars to assist states with their projects, some of which take years to complete. The request was cut to ZERO for the coming fiscal year.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, charged with HAVA’s oversight and providing guidance to federal, state and local agencies to secure elections, had its funding slashed, too. USA Today reports that the administration had requested $134 Million dollars for the EAC; it got just $20 Million – $7 Million less than the previous budget. The 2025 budget is scheduled for completion in October, and has yet to be negotiated with the Senate.
Learn more and see the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – (2019 Report) – Defending Elections: Federal Funding Needs for State Election Security
Brennan Center for Justice – Securing the 2024 Election
States Newsroom via West Virginia Watch – States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure
USA Today – (Opinion) Republicans wail about secure elections while slashing funding for election security
Cyberscoop – House Republicans propose eliminating funding for election security
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Election Security Preparedness
Issue One – Securing 2024: Defending US Elections through Investment and Reform

Groups Taking Action:
Brennan Center for Justice, Issue One,  The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ElectionSecurity 

The post The Feds Warned States to Harden Election Infrastructure. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee Just Eliminated the Election Security Grant Funding to Help States to Do It appeared first on American Democracy Minute.