Klobuchar, Rules Committee Colleagues Urge Department of Homeland Security to Address Availability of Paper Election Materials Ahead of Midterm Elections

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, led seven members of the Committee in requesting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ensure state and local election officials can get the paper supplies they need for upcoming elections. 

“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. 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 poll books,” the senators wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. 

“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,” the lawmakers continued. “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 to Klobuchar, the letter was also signed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA). 

As Chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with oversight over federal elections, Klobuchar has long been a national leader in the fight to improve the administration of elections.

At a Rules Committee hearing last week on the administration of upcoming elections, Klobuchar highlighted the need to provide election officials with resources to tackle emerging challenges to election administration, combat election-related misinformation, and invest in election security.

Last week, Klobuchar also introduced legislation with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), King, Merkley, Padilla, and six other Democratic colleagues to strengthen election administration by providing states and local governments significant and reliable federal resources. 

Last month, Klobuchar and Rules Committee Ranking Member Roy Blunt (R-MO) requested an update from the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on its efforts to support state and local election officials with administering the 2022 midterm elections, including efforts to support officials confronting a shortage of paper products. 

In March, Klobuchar also successfully urged the Biden administration to prioritize election security funding to improve the administration of federal elections in its Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal. 

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

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. 

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