Applaud the States Standing Up for Free and Fair Elections

Disaster relief should help communities recover—not be used as leverage to reshape state election laws—and these states deserve our applause for standing up for that principle.

A coalition of 25 states and Washington, D.C. has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to withhold millions of dollars in federal disaster grant funding unless states adopt new election-related requirements.

The states argue that disaster preparedness funding is essential for protecting communities from wildfires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other emergencies. They contend that those funds should not be conditioned on changes to state election systems that Congress did not authorize.

Our democracy depends on both safe communities and free, fair elections. States have the right to defend their authority under the Constitution, and the courts play a vital role in ensuring that federal agencies act within the limits of the law.

By bringing this case, these states are standing up for the rule of law, protecting critical disaster resources, and defending the principle that federal funding should be distributed according to the law—not used to pressure states into adopting unrelated policies.

Add your name to applaud the states standing up for the rule of law, protecting disaster relief funding, and defending the integrity of our elections.

Photo by Ted Eytan/Flickr