Climate Resilient Elections Act Mandates Disaster Plans, Funds $100M for Voting Infrastructure

The newly proposed Climate Resilient Elections Act is essentially an insurance policy for our voting process, designed to keep elections running even when a major hurricane, wildfire, or other disaster hits. The bill’s core purpose is to make sure our election system—which the government already considers critical national security infrastructure—can withstand the increasing frequency of climate-driven catastrophes.

The New Mandate: Disaster Planning is Now Required

If your state accepts federal funding under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), it’s about to get a new homework assignment: create a detailed Continuity of Operations Plan for running elections during a disaster. This isn’t optional; it’s tied to the funding. States must submit this detailed emergency plan to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) by September 30, 2028, and update it every five years until 2043. Think of it like a fire escape plan for democracy. It has to specifically address the types of disasters most likely to hit that state, whether it’s extreme heat shutting down power grids or floods washing out roads.

For everyday voters, this means fewer surprises when disaster strikes. If a hurricane takes out your usual polling place, the state should already have a tested plan to redirect you, ensuring your vote still counts. The EAC is required to make these plans public, though they must first redact anything that could compromise national security or public safety. This redaction clause is a bit subjective, which means the public might not get every detail, but the intent is to increase transparency while maintaining security.

Where the Money Goes: $100 Million for Resilience

To help states pay for all this planning and preparation, the bill sets up a new grant program. The government has authorized $20 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030—a total of $100 million. This money is earmarked for strengthening election systems against climate-driven disasters. States can use these funds for several practical things:

• Training: Teaching election workers how to operate in disaster conditions.
• Tech Upgrades: Buying or leasing voting machines and technology that are more resilient to power outages or physical damage.
• Voter Outreach: Setting up toll-free numbers so voters can quickly find new polling places after a disaster.

Crucially, the bill prohibits states from using this grant money to pay for legal fees or court judgments related to election lawsuits. The funds are strictly for preparedness and infrastructure, not fighting legal battles. This restriction keeps the focus squarely on operational resilience.

What Happens When Registration Tanks?

Beyond the funding and planning, the bill demands a serious look at how disasters impact voter participation. The Comptroller General of the United States is tasked with analyzing how natural disasters affect voter registration rates in the hardest-hit areas. They have to report back to Congress by September 30, 2026, with findings on what federal resources (outside of immediate life-saving efforts) could be better deployed to support elections during a crisis. For people displaced by a disaster—like the nearly 776,000 people displaced by Hurricane Sandy—this study could lead to better federal support for re-registering and voting when they are most vulnerable.

In short, the Climate Resilient Elections Act recognizes that elections don't happen in a vacuum. It pushes states to stop relying on luck and start treating disaster preparedness as a mandatory, funded part of running a modern election, ensuring that even when the weather goes sideways, the voting process stays on track.