The first section of this act provides its title, stating that it may be referred to as the "Election Security Act of 2024".

The first section of the bill specifies the short title, stating that this legislation can be officially referred to as the “Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2024”.

The section amends the Help America Vote Act to require voting systems to use paper ballots that can be verified by voters and safeguarded as official records for recounts or audits. It mandates that paper ballots should be hand-counted when necessary and emphasizes updates to voting system requirements as technology evolves, while ensuring all ballots, including paper ones, are accessible in different languages.

The section amends the Help America Vote Act to improve voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities by requiring voting systems to ensure equal access and privacy, introduce paper ballots that can be verified independently, and mandate accessible devices at polling places. It also establishes grants for developing new voting technologies, mandates coordination with other research, and ensures the technology is publicly available, with $10 million authorized for this purpose.

The bill section provides for the Commission to give grants to at least two qualified groups to research and create accessible and secure voting systems for people with disabilities. The developed technology must be available to the public without proprietary restrictions, and $10 million is authorized for these efforts, which are coordinated with other accessible voting technology research.

The section amends the Help America Vote Act to require that all voter-verifiable paper ballots be printed on durable paper that can last through multiple counts and resist damage over a 22-month period. It also mandates that paper ballots marked using a device must be readable by both voters and machines used by individuals with disabilities.

The Election Assistance Commission is tasked with studying the best ways to design election ballots, whether on paper or digitally, to reduce confusion and mistakes. They must report their findings to Congress within a year after the act is passed.

The section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the use of any wireless communication devices in ballot systems and to prevent these systems from being connected to the internet or any external computer networks to ensure cybersecurity in elections.

The amendment to Section 301(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 outlines when states and jurisdictions must follow new voting system requirements. These requirements generally start in 2026, but there are exceptions for some areas that use older voting machines or systems with certain features, allowing them more time to comply until they upgrade or change their systems.

The section discusses grants that will be available to U.S. states to update their voting systems to use paper ballots and improve voting security. It outlines the specific uses of these grants, including replacing outdated machines, enhancing cybersecurity, and ensuring accessibility, along with the eligibility requirements for states to receive the funding.

The section provides that the Commission will grant funds to eligible states to replace or upgrade their voting systems to meet new standards, improve voting system security, implement best practices, and acquire accessible voting systems. States will receive a minimum amount based on their size, plus additional funds based on their voting-age population, and must spend at least 10% of the funds on accessible voting systems.

A voting system security improvement involves various activities such as buying goods and services from qualified vendors, conducting cybersecurity training, assessing risks and vulnerabilities of election systems, maintaining and enhancing cybersecurity for election infrastructure, and improving voter registration systems, ensuring that these activities bolster the security of a state's election infrastructure. Qualified vendors are those who provide or intend to provide services related to election infrastructure and meet specific criteria under relevant legislation.

A state can receive a grant if it applies to the Commission with a plan for using the funds, promises to improve voting system security within five years, and provides any other required information.

The Commission is required to submit a report to specific committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year. These reports must detail the activities funded under this part.

The section authorizes the use of federal funds for grants, specifying $2.4 billion for the year 2026 and $175 million for each of the years 2028, 2030, and 2032, with any allocated funds remaining available until they are completely used.

The section introduces a requirement for states to conduct post-election audits of federal election results, with the aim of verifying the accuracy of the reported outcomes through manual inspection of ballots. The bill sets timelines for compliance, establishes guidelines for how these audits should be conducted, and mandates public reporting of audit results, while allowing states that are ready to audit all contests to bypass certain requirements.

In this section of the bill, post-election audits are defined as processes to ensure the accuracy of election outcomes through manual checking of ballots, with states required to set up specific rules and procedures for these audits by 2034 unless extensions are granted. Starting with specific contests from 2026, these audits will become mandatory for all federal elections, with reports made public while protecting voter anonymity.

The section amends a part of the Homeland Security Act to explicitly include "election infrastructure" as part of the protected elements, emphasizing its significance in national security.

The text outlines changes to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, introducing voluntary guidelines and certification for electronic poll books and remote ballot marking systems. These guidelines focus on the design, functionality, accessibility, and security of these systems, with specific definitions provided for each term.

The new section 301A of the Help America Vote Act requires that, starting with the 2026 general election, each state must submit a detailed plan on how it will use voting systems to the Commission 120 days before the election, including any updates if new systems are acquired close to the election date.

The section requires that each state must submit a detailed plan to the Commission about how they will use voting systems, including electronic poll books, at least 120 days before federal elections. If any changes are made to the voting system within this 120-day period, updated reports must be submitted. This rule starts with the November 2026 election and continues for every federal election thereafter.

This section of the bill requires that by November 2026, each state should ensure, as much as possible, that voting machines used in federal elections are manufactured and assembled in the United States. Additionally, any software or code developed for these voting systems should also be developed and stored domestically.