# Plain Language Summary: Protect American Election Administration Act of 2023

This bill would ban states from accepting money, donations, or other financial help from private companies and organizations to run federal elections. Right now, some states have accepted donations from private foundations and businesses to pay for things like voter registration drives, voter education campaigns, poll worker training, and equipment upgrades. This bill would make that illegal starting with the 2024 presidential election and all federal elections after that.

The only exception to this ban is that states could still accept donations of physical space—like a building or room—to use as a polling place or early voting location. So a private business could still donate the use of their building for voting, but they couldn't donate money or services to help run the election itself. The bill also updates federal election enforcement rules to include penalties for states that violate this new restriction.

The practical effect would be that states would need to fund all federal election activities entirely through government budgets rather than relying on private donations to supplement their election operations. Supporters of this bill argue it prevents private entities from having influence over how elections are administered, while critics might point out that it could strain state budgets that have come to depend on these donations to improve voting access and election security.

Protect American Election Administration Act of 2023

Cole, Tom

Protect American Election Administration Act of 2023 This bill generally prohibits a state from soliciting, receiving, or expending any payment or donation of funds, property, or personal services from a private entity for the purpose of administering a federal election. For example, the bill prohibits the use of these payments or donations for programs related to voter education, outreach, and registration. The prohibition shall not apply to a state's acceptance and use of a private entity's donation of space to be used for a polling place or an early voting site.