John,

Elections are the foundation of our democracy. But right now, that foundation is cracking.

Cyberattacks. Disinformation. Threats and harassment targeting election workers. Aging infrastructure. The growing influence of generative AI.

And extremist lawmakers are pushing dangerous, unfunded mandates that would make it harder to vote¹—especially for vulnerable communities.

As we head toward the 2026 midterms, the threats to our democracy are growing, but so are the opportunities to fight back.

Local election officials across the country are sounding the alarm: without increased federal funding, they won't have the resources to secure election infrastructure, combat disinformation, train poll workers, or ensure fair access to the ballot for all communities.

Congress has the power to address this issue, and it must do so now. Send a message to Congress urging them to allocate $825 million for election protection in the FY26 budget.

The Department of Homeland Security has frozen critical election security programs. The Department of Justice is winding down task forces built to defend our vote from foreign interference and domestic threats. Congress is falling short in its responsibility to fund our elections.

This is unacceptable. That’s why we’re demanding that Congress invest $825 million in Election Security Grants for Fiscal Year 2026—matching the bipartisan investment made in 2020, during the first Trump administration, and directing at least two-thirds of those funds to the local officials who run our elections.

There is a history of strong bipartisan support for federal funding to support state and local voting infrastructure. In 2002, Congress allocated $3 billion over three years to the states to overhaul their voting systems, hire additional poll workers, and enhance voting accessibility. In FY18 and FY20, Congress allocated $380 and $425 million for election security grants, respectively.²

Without this investment, election offices will be forced to cut corners, just when we need them to be the strongest. We can’t let disinformation and voter suppression win by default.

We must protect free and fair elections in 2026 and beyond. Join us in calling on Congress to fully fund election protection programs in the FY26 budget.

Thank you for all you do,

Dominique Espinoza
Policy and Strategic Partnerships Manager, CHN Action

¹ Executive Order Full of Unfunded Mandates for Election Officials & Unnecessary Obstacles for Eligible Voters
² Coalition Letter Supporting Federal Funding for Election Administration in FY26