Climate Resilient Elections Act
The Climate Resilient Elections Act aims to bolster election continuity and resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters. It would require states that receive Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding to develop and periodically update a continuity of operations plan (COOP) for administering elections during disasters, with initial submission due by 2028 and updates every five years through 2043. The bill also creates a federal role: the Comptroller General must study how disasters affect voter registration and how federal resources can better support election administration during major disasters, with a report due by 2026. In addition, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) would award grants to states to strengthen election infrastructure against disasters, funding voter education, training, COOP development, and upgrades to voting systems, while prohibiting certain uses such as litigation costs and judgments. The act defines what counts as a “covered major disaster” during the voting period and ensures COOP plans are publicly accessible with privacy protections.
Key Points
- 1COOP requirements for states receiving funding: By Sept. 30, 2028, submit a continuity of operations plan to the Election Assistance Commission; update every five years (through 2043) with subsequent submissions; plans may be shared with others but must protect personally identifiable information and national security/public safety.
- 2Public dissemination and privacy safeguards: The Commission must publicly disseminate COOP plans via internet and reports, but must redact or protect sensitive information.
- 3GAO study and report: The Comptroller General must analyze how natural disasters affect voter registration, how federal resources can better assist election administration during disasters, and potential legislative authorizations to improve disaster response for elections; report due by Sept. 30, 2026.
- 4Grants to strengthen elections: The EAC would award grants to states to improve resiliency of voting systems and processes, including disaster preparedness, voter education, training, COOP development, and upgrades to voting technology; creation or enhancement of a voter helpline is included.
- 5Funded scope and limits: Grants would be capped at specified uses to improve disaster readiness and election resiliency; cannot be used for most litigation costs, judgments, or to violate court orders; funding levels are set at $20 million per year from 2026 through 2030.