State will get $19M for election security

Just days after Florida formally asked for its allocation of federal money to improve election security, voting equipment and staff training, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission said Monday the $19.2 million is on the way.

The money was approved in March as part of $380 million set aside for states across the country to spend on voting systems.

But Florida’s money was delayed because Gov. Rick Scott’s administration didn’t see a need to ask for the state’s allocation.

“The answer is no,” Secretary of State Ken Detzner said on May 22, when asked if the state would attempt to draw down the money before the August primary or November general elections.

“It’s easy and nice to have money,” Detzner said during a break at the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections conference in Fort Lauderdale. “I want to make sure that this $19 million looks at what are the real needs, short term and long term . ... We want to have a plan. We want to make sure that this $19 million can serve us not only for this election year but for future election years too because when that money is gone we don’t know if there will ever be any money again.”

Less than 24 hours later, Gov. Rick Scott reversed the decision and said the state would apply for the money. The Republican governor, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., was criticized by Nelson over the issue in a Senate floor speech.

A week after that order, on May 30, Detzner asked the Election Assistance Commission to send the money to strengthen cybersecurity efforts, enhance election technology and facilitate cybersecurity training for state and local agencies that work on elections. The funds also could be used for election adminis-