CORRECTION: Hoyer, Raskin Tour Election Assistance Commission, Announce Upcoming Election Security Forum

SILVER SPRING, MD – Following their visit to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland yesterday, Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), announced plans for a public forum on election security in Rockville, Maryland on May 22^nd. Raskin serves on the Committee on House Administration, which oversees the EAC.

The EAC is the only federal agency charged with making elections more secure, accessible, accurate, and transparent. Hoyer and Raskin were instrumental in securing an additional $380 million in the recently-passed omnibus, essential funding that will help states secure their election systems and replace their most vulnerable voting machines. At the Election Assistance Commission headquarters on Thursday, Hoyer and Raskin met with EAC leadership and staff to discuss progress on the distribution of the $380 million in grants to states and received updates about states’ efforts to secure their election systems.

“I was pleased to join Congressman Raskin to tour the Election Assistance Commission headquarters,” said Whip Hoyer. “I join in thanking the EAC for the hard work they are doing to help states ensure our elections are free, fair, secure, and accessible. I was proud to be the lead Democratic sponsor of the Help America Vote Act, which created the EAC to help states improve election administration. The EAC has never been more important than it is today, and that’s why I am committed to ensuring the EAC has the resources necessary to protect the integrity of our elections.”

“We can’t have real democracy without elections, and we can’t have real elections without election security,” said Congressman Raskin. “In 2016, America saw the multiple threats that now bedevil our elections. I was proud to work with Whip Hoyer to secure a $380 million infusion for election security across the country. This forum will bring to light what election officials are doing to fortify American democracy against cyber-hacking and tampering and other new perils.” 

The members also discussed cybersecurity practices with election technology vendors on Thursday. In a report issued earlier this year, the Congressional Task Force on Election Security noted that election vendors have little financial incentive to prioritize security and are not required to use cybersecurity best practices. The Task Force recommends requiring vendors to notify the EAC and the Department of Homeland Security about cyberattacks, and suggests that state contracts require vendors to secure their systems and notify state and local officials about cybersecurity incidents.

At the May 22^nd forum, Hoyer and Raskin will join EAC officials and experts for a discussion about the state of our election systems, EAC’s efforts to help states secure their elections, and the need for Congressional action to protect our democracy from foreign interference. Additional details are below.