Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, have introduced a bill to establish a global election security program under the State Department, the Office of Amy Klobuchar said in a press release Friday.The Global Electoral Exchange Act will award grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations that specialize in election security to facilitate the exchange of relevant information with similar entities in partner nations.
The bill proposes to host foreign representatives that hold election administration duties including government officials, judiciary members and poll workers to participate in studies involving election procedures.
Additionally, a network called Global Electoral Exchange Program Alumni will be created within the State Department to support continuing exchanges of information on issues such as disinformation campaigns, audits and voter database security.
The department will submit reports on the program to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Administration and Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Rules and Administration every two years.
The House unanimously passed a similar legislation sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C.
Klobuchar noted that the bill comes after reported threats to U.S. election security from Russia and Iran.
