Election Security Partnership Act
The Election Security Partnership Act would create a new $20 million federal funding stream for states that already receive money under the 2026 election security grant program and that sign a written agreement with the Secretary of Homeland Security. Eligible states would receive an additional payment, capped at 10 percent of their existing grant amount, to support election administration, including election technology upgrades and other election security improvements.
To qualify, a state must agree to provide, at least quarterly beginning after September 30, 2026, its complete official voter registration list for federal elections to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison through the SAVE system. The bill ties extra election security funding to state cooperation in sharing voter registration data for the purpose of identifying individuals who are not citizens of the United States.
If enacted, the bill would amend the federal election security funding framework by adding a bonus grant program administered by the Election Assistance Commission. It would not directly change state election laws, but it would create a financial incentive for states to enter into data-sharing agreements with DHS and to transmit voter registration rolls on a recurring basis. The measure would affect state election officials, the Election Assistance Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security, and it would likely influence how states manage voter registration data and election security planning.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the available record suggests the measure is framed as an election integrity and security proposal rather than a broadly negotiated compromise. Its sponsors appear to support using federal funding to encourage states to participate in voter list verification through DHS. Because there are no transcripts or vote results provided, there is no documented bipartisan or partisan reaction in the available materials, but the structure of the bill indicates it is likely to appeal to supporters of stricter voter verification and election security measures.
The main point of contention is likely the requirement that states provide their full voter registration lists to DHS for SAVE-system comparison to identify noncitizens. Supporters would view this as a tool to improve election integrity and security, while critics may raise concerns about privacy, federal involvement in state election administration, data accuracy, and the potential for voter suppression or administrative burdens. Another possible issue is that the funding is conditioned on cooperation, which may be seen as coercive by states that object to sharing voter data with DHS.