Letter to Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security - Klobuchar, Rules Committee Colleagues Urge Department of Homeland Security to Address Availability of Paper Election Materials Ahead of Midterm Elections

Letter

Dear Secretary Mayorkas:

We write to express our concern over the potential impact of paper supply issues on upcoming elections and to request that the Department of Homeland Security take action to address these challenges.

During our May 19 hearing in the Senate Rules Committee, we heard concerns from election officials and experts from across the country that paper supply shortages could impact the ability of state and local officials to effectively administer upcoming elections. The Republican and Democratic Commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission have also written that "paper supply chain challenges are a significant concern for election officials preparing for the midterm primaries and general election."

Paper materials are critical for the successful administration of elections, which require a wide range of paper supplies -- not only for ballots but also for voter registration materials, ballot envelopes, mail ballot applications, and precinct pollbooks. The witnesses at our hearing testified that supply chain issues in the paper industry are making it difficult for vendors to obtain the paper needed to produce and supply these products to election officials.

It is for these reasons that we urge the Department to consider how it can use its resources and authority and act to alleviate these issues as states continue to conduct primaries and we approach the general election in November. In addition -- while we understand that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has convened a working group now considering how to address these issues -- we ask for an update as to the Department's actions in this area to date and its plans for future action.

Thank you for your attention to these important issues and your continued work to assist state and local election officials.