As a proud Mainer deeply invested in our state’s future, I am continually encouraged by our tradition of bipartisan cooperation and commitment to the common good. Our political landscape often reflects a dedication to community stewardship and effective governance, and Sen. Susan Collins embodies these principles with her focus on pragmatic policies that benefit all Mainers. Now, more than ever, we need Sen. Collins to draw on her record of leadership and bipartisanship to help secure the bedrock of our democratic process: our elections.
Maine’s elections are conducted with integrity and efficiency, but sustaining and enhancing this high standard requires continued investment in our electoral system. Protecting our democracy means more than just keeping the lights on at polling locations — it requires our elections to remain safe, secure, and accessible to all citizens.
Unfortunately, in recent years, federal investment in election infrastructure has drastically decreased, with only $55 million allocated in fiscal year 2024 — compared to approximately $400 million under the previous administration.
Worse yet, the spending bill recently advanced by the House Appropriations Committee zeroes out funding for this critical element of national security altogether. To preserve the reliable and transparent voting experience Mainers have come to expect, there is a flurry of activity behind-the-scenes to marshal proper staffing, updated equipment, and proactive security measures. All of this work requires adequate funding, especially in rural areas where resources are more scarce.
For instance, modern cybersecurity measures play an instrumental role in safeguarding our elections from foreign interference. By restoring federal funding to the levels we saw in 2020, we can bolster the threat mitigation tools already in place and help introduce more innovative protections against evolving cyber threats. In today’s world, cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and will only continue to grow more complex and potent. Our elections must be prepared to thwart these attempts by bad actors to undermine our democratic process.
Equally vital is ensuring the safety and security of our election officials, workers, and volunteers. Providing comprehensive training in cybersecurity measures and physical security protocols is essential to protecting election facilities and those who staff them, especially because physical threats and harassment toward the election workforce have increased in recent years. These public servants deserve our unwavering support and protection from threats and harassment as they work diligently to facilitate our elections.
With federal election infrastructure funding on the decline and cyber threats and physical threats on the rise, now is not the time to turn a blind eye to our nation’s election security needs.
As the 2025 appropriations process kicks off in the Senate, Sen. Collins has an opportunity to support a full $400 million investment in our election infrastructure. Her leadership is crucial to securing the resources needed to preserve the integrity of our electoral system. By moving forward with increased election security funding, we can ensure that Maine remains an example of democracy done right.
Let’s demonstrate to the nation that we value the integrity of our elections and the trust of our citizens.
Tom Martin is a small business owner, former state senator and state representative from Greene.
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