Election security bill S.4849 would send $10 billion via EAC grants

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Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Adam Schiff introduced S.4849, the “State and Local Election Security Act of 2026,” a bill that would authorize $10 billion in near-term election-administration funding—routing it through the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) rather than leaving all of the planning to states and counties.

The bill was introduced June 22, 2026, and the GovInfo record shows it was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. If enacted, it’s designed to move money quickly for election-cycle upgrades.

What S.4849 would authorize i

The bill’s one-page overview says the legislation is aimed at supporting election administration for the 2026 and 2028 election cycles, with a total of $10 billion in near-term funding: $5 billion in 2026 and $2.5 billion each in 2027 and 2028. The overview says the funding would support modernizing election infrastructure and efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to election-security threats.

It also includes $50 million for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC).

How the money would flow (and why that matters locally) i

S.4849 is structured around EAC disbursements. The Padilla overview says the bill would direct the EAC to make funds available within 30 days of enactment.

The overview also describes a local-direct routing requirement: it says the bill would require that half of the funds be provided to local election jurisdictions directly—an approach supporters say is meant to reduce how much election offices depend on slower, state-level intermediary steps.

Why the spending window is a practical election-administration issue i

Election technology and cybersecurity procurement often take longer than one election season. The overview addresses that reality by creating a five-year window for election officials to spend the funds, with an optional waiver for an additional three years.

For local jurisdictions that need to plan vendor contracting, system replacements, training schedules, and audits well ahead of time, a longer runway is often the difference between “late upgrades” and orderly, testable deployments.

What this resembles, based on EAC’s existing election-security grant framework i

The EAC describes its election security grants as formula grants authorized under Title I, Section 101 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The EAC says this funding is intended to improve the administration of elections for federal office, including enhancing technology and making certain election security improvements.

In an EAC FAQ, the agency lists examples of categories of work states may use election security funds for, including:

• Replacing voting equipment that only records a voter’s intent electronically with systems that use a voter-verified paper record
• Implementing a post-election audit system to provide a high level of confidence in the final vote tally
• Upgrading election-related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities identified through DHS or similar scans or assessments
• Facilitating cybersecurity training for the state chief election official’s office and local election officials
• Implementing cybersecurity best practices for election systems

S.4849 is not law yet. If it advances and is enacted, EAC guidance and the final statutory terms would determine how these funding categories apply in practice.

What to watch next i

For voters, the key question is what happens procedurally after introduction:

• Committee action: GovInfo shows the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Watch for hearings, amendments, and changes that could affect the local-direct requirement or the spending timeline.
• EAC implementation after enactment: If Congress approves the bill, S.4849’s 30-day disbursement concept would make EAC follow-on timelines and instructions especially important for local offices planning procurement.
• Allocation details: Even with “up to” style authorizations, the real-world impact will depend on how EAC applies the enacted formula and how funds are monitored and reported.

Sources

• GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office): S.4849 bill record
• Padilla/Senate one-page bill overview: “State and Local Election Security Act of 2026”
• Sen. Schiff press release announcing S.4849 funding structure
• Election Assistance Commission (EAC): Election Security Grant program overview

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