U.S. Voting Equipment in Crisis: $2.7 Billion Needed to Avert System Failure

The average age of US voting equipment could reach 9.3 years by the next presidential election—a stark warning from a new bipartisan report.

The Alarming State of America's Voting Machines

A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) paints a dire picture of America's aging election infrastructure. Replacing all outdated voting equipment with systems certified to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG 2.0) would cost approximately $2.71 billion. At current funding levels, the BPC projects that nationwide adoption of these new standards could drag on until the 2040s.

Many jurisdictions are already running on borrowed time. In Louisiana, election officials have resorted to cannibalizing parts from non-functional machines to keep aging equipment running. Secretary of State Nancy Landry told a state Senate committee that the election system "has reached the end of its life cycle."

The Funding Gap

The contrast in federal investment is stark. Congress allocated over $3 billion after the 2000 election to modernize voting systems. However, recent funding has plummeted: only $60 million has been appropriated over the past two years, compared to more than $800 million before 2020.

BPC co-author Will Adler highlighted the fundamental challenge: "Since funding is the main obstacle, if Congress wanted to speed up that transition … it could be much faster." He noted that the decentralized nature of US elections and the high cost are slowing progress.

New Standards, New Requirements

The VVSG 2.0 guidelines—notably included in President Trump's executive order on elections—represent a significant upgrade. These standards mandate auditable paper records and introduce new security requirements. While many jurisdictions already use paper records, the new standard makes this a formal certification requirement.

The Road Ahead

With presidential elections approaching and equipment aging rapidly, the clock is ticking. Without significant new funding, voters could face machines that are nearly a decade old by the next election cycle, increasing risks of malfunctions and security vulnerabilities.

"Since funding is the main obstacle, if Congress wanted to speed up that transition … it could be much faster." — Will Adler, BPC co-author