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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Oversight Hearing: Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
Record date · January 1, 2023
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What This Bill Does
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held an hearing on June 7, 2023, to review the operations and mission of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The hearing focused on the agency's role in supporting state and local election officials, managing security grants, and addressing modern threats like disinformation and artificial intelligence ahead of the 2024 elections.
The EAC manages federal security grants for state and local election offices, which have received over $931 million since 2018 to protect voting systems and election infrastructure.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State and local election officials
These officials receive federal security grants and guidance from the EAC to administer elections.
U.S. voters
Voters are affected by the security and accessibility standards set by the EAC for their local voting systems.
Key Facts
- The EAC has distributed over $931 million in election security grants to states and territories since 2018.
- The hearing was held on June 7, 2023, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
- The EAC is tasked with establishing cybersecurity guidelines for voting systems and promoting election accessibility.
- The committee identified new election threats including the targeting of election workers, the spread of disinformation, and the use of artificial intelligence to mislead voters.
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- The EAC provides resources to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
- The hearing included testimony from the EAC Chairwoman, Vice Chair, and two Commissioners.
- The record includes legislative proposals submitted by the EAC and responses to questions for the record from Senators Klobuchar, Bennet, and Fischer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)?
How much federal funding has been provided for election security since 2018?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on AI and Disinformation
The committee explicitly highlighted artificial intelligence and disinformation as emerging threats to election administration, marking a shift in focus from traditional physical security.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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