To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an election research program to test the security of election systems, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-hr-5358
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2021-09-24
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Latest action: action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-09-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an election research program through which qualified independent security researchers test each election system to identify potentially vulnerable information. Further, DHS must establish policies and procedures for processing and resolving potentially vulnerable information relating to an election system.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5358 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2021 Mr. Bacon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration , and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an election research program to test the security of election systems, and for other purposes.

1. Election research program (a) In general Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 651 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2218. Election research program (a) Establishment of election research program (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the heads of election service providers, shall establish and administer an election research program to test each election system provided by each election service provider (under fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms) on behalf of an election agency to identify potentially vulnerable information. (2) Testing In carrying out the program required under paragraph (1), qualified independent security researchers shall apply the methodology developed pursuant to paragraph (3) to each election system provided pursuant to paragraph (1) to identify potentially vulnerable information. (3) Methodology The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall develop a methodology to be used by independent security researchers to test each election system provided by each election solution provider to identify potentially vulnerable information. (4) Qualifications for qualified independent researcher The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, shall establish the qualifications for the independent security researchers referred to in subsection paragraph (3). (b) Coordinated vulnerability disclosure guidelines Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission, cybersecurity researchers, and covered industry experts, shall establish policies and procedures for the processing and resolution of potentially vulnerable information relating to an election system, to the extent practicable, aligned with Standards 29147 and 30111 of the International Standards Organization, including— (1) processes for an election service provider to— (A) receive information relating to potentially vulnerable information relating to an election system; and (B) disseminate resolution information relating to potentially vulnerable information relating to an election system; and (2) guidance, such as the Guide to Vulnerability Reporting for America’s Election Administrators, with respect to the information items to be produced through the implementation of the vulnerability disclosure process of the election service provider. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered field The term covered field means computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management. (2) Covered industry expert The term covered industry expert means an individual who has— (A) successfully completed 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (given the meaning of such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )) in a covered field; or (B) a degree that requires at least 24 semester hours in a covered field required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks. (3) Director The term Director means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (4) Election agency The term election agency means the Federal Election Commission. (5) Election service provider The term covered election service provider means a private sector entity which develops, manufactures, sells, and/or implements and maintains technology that enables the administration of elections. Including but not limited to, voting systems, electronic pollbooks, election management systems, and voter registration systems. (6) Election system The term election system means— (A) the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support the equipment) that is used to— (i) define ballots; (ii) cast and count votes; (iii) report or display election results; and (iv) maintain and produce any audit trail information; and (B) the practices and associated documentation used to— (i) identify system components and versions of such components; (ii) test the system during its development and maintenance; (iii) maintain records of system errors and defects; (iv) determine specific system changes to be made to a system after the initial qualification of the system; and (v) make available any materials to the voter (such as notices, instructions, forms, or paper ballots). (7) Potentially vulnerable information The term potential vulnerability information means a flaw in code or design that creates a potential point of security compromise for an endpoint or network. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2217 the following new item: 2218. Election research program. .