U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) sent a letter urging President Biden to include significant funding for election grants in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 federal budget.

These resources would help state and local governments with the administration and security of federal elections, including to maintain and improve election infrastructure, keep pace with emerging technology such as artificial intelligence, and enhance cybersecurity to combat new threats.

“With the 2024 elections now underway, state and local officials are already spending significant resources so that every eligible American can make their voices heard when they cast their ballots. This funding is critical for hardworking officials to prepare and plan effectively for their ongoing responsibilities on the frontlines of our democracy,” wrote the senators.

“These resources are also important to hire and train new election officials and poll workers, as well as to protect the security of election officials who are facing ongoing threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs. One survey of local election officials last year found that nearly one in three said they have been abused, harassed, or threatened and one in five know someone who left their job over safety concerns,” the senators continued.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.),  Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Heinrich and Luján have worked extensively to protect Americans’ fundamental freedom to vote.

Last year, Heinrich and Luján introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation to improve access to the ballot for Americans, advance commonsense federal election standards and campaign finance reforms, and protect our democracy. At the end of 2022, Heinrich and Luján helped to pass bipartisan reforms to the Electoral Count Act and stronger security measures to protect nonpartisan local elections workers.

Luján has long championed the Native American Voting Rights Act, legislation to protect the sacred right to vote and ensure equal access to the electoral process for American Indians and Alaska Natives and voters living on Tribal lands.

Through his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Heinrich has led bipartisan legislation to strengthen election cyber security in America.

In early 2023, the entire New Mexico Congressional Delegation wrote an op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican urging the New Mexico Legislature to pass a historic voting rights law that expanded voter access in New Mexico, improved accessibility, security, and fairness in future state elections.

The full text of the letter is HERE and below:  

Dear Mr. President: 

We write to urge you to prioritize funding to support our free and fair elections in your budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, including by providing the highest possible funding level for grants to be distributed to states by the Election Assistance Commission. With the 2024 elections now underway, state and local officials are already spending significant resources so that every eligible American can make their voices heard when they cast their ballots. This funding is critical for hardworking officials to prepare and plan effectively for their ongoing responsibilities on the frontlines of our democracy.  

The continued successful administration of our elections requires a steady stream of resources to support this year-round work. This funding is needed to maintain and improve election infrastructure, keep pace with emerging technology like artificial intelligence, and enhance cybersecurity to combat new threats. Election security is integral to national security and it is critical that we invest meaningfully to ensure that they continue to run smoothly.  

These resources are also important to hire and train new election officials and poll workers, as well as to protect the security of election officials who are facing ongoing threats and harassment for simply doing their jobs. One survey of local election officials last year found that nearly one in three said they have been abused, harassed, or threatened and one in five know someone who left their job over safety concerns. Last fall over a dozen letters were reportedly sent to election offices or government buildings in six states, some containing fentanyl and other unidentified substances, that not only threatened the health and safety of election officials but also caused some delays in ballot counting.  

While we are also working to strengthen our democracy and are committed to advancing legislation to expand access to the ballot and improve the security of election officials and workers, we recognize that the critical work being done to administer our elections successfully is happening now, despite years of underinvestment. We urge you to include in your budget the funding that is needed to not only maintain the safe and secure administration of our elections, but also to address emerging threats and to invest in future elections.  

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.