The Department of Homeland Security announced on July 10, 2026, that states and other recipients must adopt new election security measures to receive their full Homeland Security Grant Program awards. The requirements cover paper ballots, manual audits, voter reconciliation and citizenship verification, with FEMA withholding 20% of each award until compliance is verified.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made more than $1 billion available through the voluntary grant program for state, Tribal Nation, territorial and local governments. DHS said the funding conditions are intended to strengthen election infrastructure against cyberattacks, foreign interference, insider threats and administrative discrepancies.
DHS Links Homeland Security Grants to Election Requirements
DHS introduced the requirements through FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program funding process. Applicants may choose whether to seek funding, but recipients accepting an award must follow its terms and provide evidence that the required election security measures have been implemented.
The department said the conditions are intended to connect federal spending with measurable safeguards. In practice, recipients will receive most of their awards while FEMA retains a portion until DHS completes its compliance review.
Funding and Compliance Framework
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Available funding | More than $1 billion offered | FEMA made the funding available to eligible state, Tribal Nation, territorial and local governments through the Homeland Security Grant Program. |
| Conditional funding | 20% may be withheld | FEMA will retain 20% of a recipient’s total award until DHS verifies submitted evidence of compliance. |
| Manual ballot review | Minimum 5% audit required | DHS requires states to manually examine a random selection representing at least 5% of ballots cast after each federal election. |
| Citizenship review | 120-day implementation deadline | States must begin using an authorized federal verification process within 120 days of accepting an award, subject to current court restrictions. |
States Must Transition Toward Paper Ballots
States seeking grant funding must submit plans to move away from electronic voting systems that use barcodes or QR codes to count votes. DHS said replacement equipment should accept hand-marked paper ballots, creating a physical record that can be examined independently of the electronic count.
The grant condition does not require every affected voting machine to be replaced immediately. Instead, participating states must submit a transition plan covering systems that use barcodes or QR codes to tabulate votes.
Creating a Verifiable Paper Trail
According to DHS, hand-marked ballots provide a record that election administrators can compare with machine-generated results. The physical ballots would therefore support audits and allow officials to investigate irregularities or equipment errors before results are finalized.
However, the grant notice places the implementation responsibility on participating jurisdictions. States will need to identify affected systems, plan equipment changes and demonstrate progress to FEMA before the withheld share of funding is released.
Manual Audits and Ballot Reconciliation Required
Following each federal election, participating states must manually audit at least 5% of all ballots cast. DHS said election administrators must physically review a random ballot sample and compare the paper results with the totals reported by voting equipment.
States must also reconcile the number of participating voters with the number of ballots cast. This comparison is intended to identify unexplained differences before certification, while leaving election officials responsible for reviewing and resolving any discrepancy.
Election Verification Requirements
- Manual audit: DHS requires a physical review of a random selection covering at least 5% of ballots cast after every federal election.
- Machine comparison: State election authorities must compare the audited paper ballots with the results produced by voting equipment.
- Voter reconciliation: Participating states must compare the number of voters recorded as participating with the total number of ballots cast.
- Compliance evidence: FEMA requires documentation showing that these processes have been adopted before releasing the retained 20% of an award.
Citizenship Checks Added to Grant Conditions
Within 120 days of accepting an award, states must use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to review citizenship information associated with their voter registration databases. DHS said the requirement is intended to confirm that registered voters meet federal citizenship eligibility rules.
The department also requires verification of people working at polling locations or operating election systems. States may use SAVE or another authorized government system for election personnel, extending the condition beyond voter registration records to election administration.
SAVE System Verification Process
Implementation is affected by ongoing litigation over the expanded use of SAVE. A June 22, 2026, order in League of Women Voters v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security restricted aspects of the system while the federal government pursued an appeal.
The DHS announcement states that where SAVE functionality is unavailable and state records do not establish a registered voter’s citizenship, a state may submit relevant information to USCIS for an immigration records search under 8 U.S.C. § 1373. Reuters reported that separate federal court orders issued in June and July produced conflicting directions concerning state access to SAVE.
The citizenship verification condition therefore enters the grant framework while the legal status and availability of expanded SAVE access remain under active federal litigation. Participating jurisdictions may face different verification routes depending on the court orders and federal processes in effect when compliance is assessed.
FEMA Emphasizes Accountability for Federal Funding
FEMA described the Homeland Security Grant Program as voluntary. State, Tribal Nation, territorial and local governments are not required to apply, but those accepting federal funds must comply with the program’s conditions and document how taxpayer funding is used.
The framework gives recipients access to more than $1 billion while tying the final portion of each award to verified action. DHS presents that arrangement as an accountability mechanism rather than a direct federal mandate on jurisdictions that do not participate.
Stakeholder Comments
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said;
“Election security is national security and protecting the Nation’s critical infrastructure is a top priority. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are taking decisive action to protect election systems from threats like foreign interference, insider threats, and cyberattacks. These new requirements for homeland security grant recipients will preserve election integrity and ensure that Americans can trust the results.”
The new election security grants conditions link federal homeland security funding to paper-ballot transition plans, post-election audits, ballot reconciliation and citizenship checks. FEMA will withhold 20% of each participating recipient’s award until DHS verifies compliance.
Implementation of the SAVE requirement remains subject to federal litigation, while the remaining grant conditions establish measurable steps that recipients must document before receiving their complete awards.
Sources: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Reuters.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources.
Research combines AI-assisted analysis with human-edited accuracy and context.
