As the 2024 elections draw closer, America’s election infrastructure is in the spotlight. Here in Iowa and across the United States, lawmakers are currently hammering out the details of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2025.
It’s critical that Iowa’s leaders in Washington support the $75 million for election security currently being advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Our election security efforts must reflect the new era of threats from bad actors abroad and support the hardworking election officers across Iowa who seamlessly pull off elections, repeatedly – including under strained resources, particularly in rural communities.
That’s what makes this drop in federal funding to support our election infrastructure so alarming. Four years ago, under President Trump, lawmakers allocated around $400 million for election security. Last year, that figure dropped to $55 million. We must reverse this trend.
Iowa’s congressional delegation can help push their colleagues to support the Senate’s $75 million appropriations bill.
The future of our nation is at stake. We must ensure our elections are secure. Reach out to your legislators and encourage them to support this important funding; vote early; and volunteer to be a poll watcher.
April Melton
Chairwoman, Black Hawk County Republicans
