Bill · S. 2588· Senate(119-S-2588)
Sustaining Our Democracy Act
- Introduced
- 7/31/2025
- Last activity
- 7/31/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 13 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program to provide federal allocations to states for democracy promotion. These activities include upgrading election infrastructure, recruiting and protecting election officials, and increasing voting access for specific groups. A new Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation will oversee the program and manage a dedicated trust fund. The bill provides $2.5 billion annually from 2026 through 2035 to fund these initiatives. States must submit specific plans to receive their allocations.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice?+8
The act provides funding to expand polling places and increase the availability of early and mail voting.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically provides funding to increase voting access for voters residing on Indian lands.
Does this protect the right to vote?+7
The bill funds activities to increase voting access for underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, and racial and language minority groups.
The opposite
Would union members be better off under this?-1
The bill does not directly impact labor rights or union protections.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill establishes a new trust fund with $2.5 billion annual appropriations for democracy programs.
Does this get reliable internet to more people?-1
The bill focuses on election infrastructure rather than general internet connectivity.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Election Infrastructure: The bill funds upgrades to voting equipment, voter registration systems, and cybersecurity to improve the efficiency and security of elections (Section 101(b)(1)).
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Support for Election Workers: Provisions include activities to recruit, train, retain, and protect nonpartisan election officials and poll workers from threats (Section 101(b)(2)).
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Increased Voting Access: The act aims to increase access to voting for underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, racial and language minority groups, and voters on Indian lands (Section 101(b)(3)).
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Expanded Voting Options: Funding can be used to expand polling places and the availability of early and mail voting (Section 101(b)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Prohibition on certain activities: States are prohibited from using funds for activities that intimidate or coerce voters or poll workers (Section 103(a)(1)(A)).
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Restrictions on voter assistance: Funds cannot be used for activities that restrict the distribution of food or nonalcoholic beverages to voters while they wait at polling places (Section s103(a)(1)(B)).
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Limitations on election audits: The bill prohibits using funds for audits that fail to meet specific best practices or that jeopardize election records and equipment (Section 103(a)(1)(F)).
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Voter roll restrictions: Funds may not be used for the removal of voters from voter rolls if the evidence used is not reliable (Section 103(a)(1)(G)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+7Good For People With Disabilities+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Union Workers-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Voting Access+8Improves Voting Rights+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access-1
- 7/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- 15 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts