To the Editor:
Louisiana’s election officials did a great job administering the November 2024 election process. All the important steps in the election process to ensure a smooth and secure election day require a great deal of time and funding to ensure our elections are administered in a secure manner, eligible citizens can cast their votes, and the results are accurate.
As technology continues to advance, our elections are increasingly vulnerable to a variety of evolving security threats. Federal funding plays a pivotal role in ensuring that elections remain secure, resilient, and trusted by the American people. With Congress back in session, lawmakers must prioritize sustained investment in election infrastructure to safeguard the integrity of our democratic system.
During the first Trump Administration, Congress allocated around $400 annually million toward election infrastructure, demonstrating a clear commitment to our voting process. However, during the Biden administration, this budget decreased significantly, causing our election infrastructure budget to dip to only $55 million in Fiscal Year 2024. We cannot expect our electoral process to remain secure without consistent federal funding in the future.
As a former chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee in the Louisiana legislature, I know that sufficient funding for election infrastructure should be a top priority as we move into the future as election security is designated as one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S., underscoring its importance in maintaining national stability. The risks associated with emerging technologies—particularly AI-generated disinformation— further highlight the urgent need for comprehensive security measures.
In today’s technologically advanced era, we must ensure that our voting machines and election infrastructure are equipped with modern security measures to protect against cyber threats and remain NDAA 2019 compliant. With proper funding, we can ensure that our election process isn’t circumvented by potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs, or the persistence of election misinformation.
We must be cautious of excessive spending; however, the cost of not adequately funding our election infrastructure is far greater than the cost of doing so.
Supporting election security gives our state and local offices the resources needed to uphold democratic integrity. Congress must approve this year’s funding to guarantee that elections in Louisiana and across the country stay secure for voters in the future.
Barry Milligan is a former Louisiana State Senator, who served on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
