Grants to States for election worker recruitment, training, and safety

(a) In general Subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 7 Election worker recruitment, training, and safety 297. Grants to States for poll worker and election volunteer recruitment and training (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Election Worker Protection Act of 2025, the Commission shall, subject to the availability of appropriations provided to carry out this section, make a grant to each eligible State for recruiting and training individuals to serve as poll workers and election volunteers on dates of elections for public office. (b) Use of Commission materials and training program development (1) In general In carrying out activities using funds under a grant provided under this section, the recipient of the grant shall— (A) use the materials prepared by the Commission on successful practices for poll worker and election volunteer recruiting, training, and retention as an interactive training tool; and (B) develop training programs with the participation and input of experts in adult learning. (2) Access and cultural considerations The Commission shall ensure that the materials described in paragraph (1)(A) provide training in methods that will enable poll workers and election volunteers to provide access and delivery of services that meet the unique needs of each voter in a culturally competent manner with respect to each voter who uses the services, including voters who have limited English proficiency, are of diverse cultural or ethnic backgrounds, or have disabilities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (c) Requirements for eligibility (1) Application Each State that desires to receive a payment under this section shall submit an application for the payment to the Commission at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may reasonably require. (2) Contents of application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; (B) provide assurances that— (i) the funds provided under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant other funds used to carry out the activities; (ii) the State will furnish the Commission with information about individuals who served as poll workers and election volunteers after recruitment and training with the funds provided under this section; and (iii) the State will dedicate poll worker and election volunteer recruitment efforts with respect to— (I) youth and minors, including by recruiting at institutions of higher education and secondary education; and (II) diversity, including with respect to race, ethnicity, and disability; and (C) provide such additional information and certifications as the Commission determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. (d) Amount of grant (1) In general The amount of a grant made to a State under this section shall be equal to the product of— (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to States under this section; and (B) the voting age population percentage for the State. (2) Voting age population percentage defined In paragraph (1), the voting age population percentage for a State is the quotient of— (A) the voting age population of the State (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census); divided by (B) the total voting age population of all States (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census). (e) Rules for States that do not submit an application and grants to political subdivisions (1) In general If a State fails to submit an application under subsection (c) at the time established by the Commission for such submission, the Commission may offer to political subdivisions within that State the opportunity to apply for a payment under this section. (2) Contents of application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; (B) provide assurances that— (i) the funds provided under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant other funds used to carry out the activities; (ii) the political subdivision will furnish the Commission with information about individuals who served as poll workers and election volunteers after recruitment and training with the funds provided under this section; and (iii) the political subdivision will dedicate poll worker and election volunteer recruitment efforts with respect to— (I) youth and minors, including by recruiting at institutions of higher education and secondary education; and (II) diversity, including with respect to race, ethnicity, and disability; and (C) provide such additional information and certifications as the Commission determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. (3) Amount of grants for political subdivisions The amount of a grant made to a political subdivision under this subsection shall be an amount that bears the same proportion to the amount determined with respect to the State in which the political subdivision is located as— (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to States under this section; bears to (B) the voting age population percentage for the political subdivision of the State. (f) Reports to Congress (1) Relevant committees In this subsection, the term relevant committees means— (A) the Committees on Rules and Administration and Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committees on Administration and Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Reports by recipients of grants Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Commission makes a final grant under this section, the recipient shall submit a report to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds provided under the grant. (3) Reports by Commission Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission makes the final grant under this section, the Commission shall submit a report to the relevant committees regarding— (A) the grants made under this section; (B) the activities carried out by recipients using funds provided under the grants; and (C) such recommendations relating to recruitment and training of election workers as the Commission considers appropriate. (g) Funding (1) Authorization There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for payments under this section, to remain available until expended. (2) Administrative expenses Of the amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than 3 percent shall be available for administrative expenses of the Commission. 298. Grants to States for election worker safety (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Election Worker Protection Act of 2025, the Commission shall, subject to the availability of appropriations provided to carry out this section, make a grant to each eligible State for physical security services and social media threat monitoring for election workers. (b) Requirements for eligibility (1) Application Each State that desires to receive a payment under this section shall submit an application for the payment to the Commission at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may reasonably require. (2) Contents of application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and (B) provide assurances that— (i) the funds provided under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant other funds used to carry out the activities; and (ii) the State will furnish the Commission with information on the number of individuals provided services under this section. (c) Amount of grant (1) In general The amount of a grant made to a State under this section shall be equal to the product of— (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to States under this section; and (B) the voting age population percentage for the State. (2) Voting age population percentage defined In paragraph (1), the voting age population percentage for a State is the quotient of— (A) the voting age population of the State (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census); divided by (B) the total voting age population of all States (as determined on the basis of the most recent information available from the Bureau of the Census). (d) Rules for States that do not submit an application and grants to political subdivisions (1) In general If a State fails to submit an application under subsection (b) at the time established by the Commission for such submission, the Commission may offer to political subdivisions within that State the opportunity to apply for a payment under this section. (2) Contents of application Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and (B) provide assurances that— (i) the funds provided under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant other funds used to carry out the activities; and (ii) the political subdivision will furnish the Commission with information on the number of individuals provided services under this section. (3) Amount of grants for political subdivisions The amount of a grant made to a political subdivision under this subsection shall be an amount that bears the same proportion to the amount determined with respect to the State in which the political subdivision is located as— (A) the aggregate amount made available for grants to States under this section; bears to (B) the voting age population percentage for the political subdivision of the State. (e) Reports to Congress (1) Relevant committees In this subsection, the term relevant committees means— (A) the Committees on Rules and Administration and Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committees on Administration and Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Reports by recipients of grants Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Commission makes a final grant under this section, the recipient shall submit a report to the Commission on the activities conducted with the funds provided under the grant. (3) Reports by Commission Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission makes the final grant under this section, the Commission shall submit a report to the relevant committees regarding— (A) the grants made under this section; (B) the activities carried out by recipients using funds provided under the grants; and (C) such recommendations for physical security services and social media threat monitoring as the Commission considers appropriate. (f) Funding There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for payments under this section, to remain available until expended.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of title II the following: PART 7—Election worker recruitment, training, and safety Sec. 297. Grants to States for election worker recruitment and training. Sec. 298. Grants to States for election worker safety..