The Global Electoral Exchange Act would establish an international information sharing program on election security at the State Department
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to share information on election practices with our international allies. The Global Electoral Exchange Act would establish an international information sharing program on election administration and security at the State Department. The program would allow for the U.S. and our international allies to exchange ideas related to best practices on issues like audits, disinformation campaigns, voter database protections and other issues critical to election administration. The bill also authorizes the State Department to provide grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations that specialize in election security and administration for the purpose of exchanging information with similar organizations in partner countries.
“Our election systems—and those of our allies—have become a target for foreign adversaries. Safeguarding our democracies must be a priority for us all,” Klobuchar said. “This bipartisan legislation will allow the State Department to work with our allies abroad to share information, discuss best practices, and combat the growing threat of election interference around the world.”
“We cannot understate the continued, unrelenting threats against our own democratic process, and that of our allies around the world,” Sullivan said. “I am proud to again introduce legislation that will enable greater partnership and cooperation with our friends to defend against efforts that seek to undermine our elections and the voice of our citizens.”
The Global Electoral Exchange Act will improve international election security by:
- Authorizing the Department to provide grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations that specialize in election security and election administration for the purpose of exchanging information with similar organizations in partner countries.
- Bringing foreign individuals who participate in election administration – from government officials, poll workers, members of the judiciary, and more –to the United States to study election procedure for educational purposes. Additionally, U.S. election administrators, experts, and officials will be invited to study how our allies are working to protect their democracies in light of new threats from countries like Russia and Iran.
- Maintaining a network “Global Electoral Exchange Program Alumni” at the State Department that will promote further exchanges of information.
- Require that reports be submitted every two years to the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Rules and Administration, and the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Administration on the status of the program.
Corresponding legislation was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC).
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