Bill extends foreign money ban to voter drives and election administration

What does this do?

HR 8721 expands the existing federal ban on foreign money in U.S. elections to cover voter registration drives, ballot collection, get-out-the-vote efforts, voter ID programs, and election administration itself. The bill closes a loophole that allowed foreign funds to pass through middleman organizations before reaching those activities. It also prohibits most federal agencies from collecting or publicly releasing the names of donors to tax-exempt nonprofits.

Who does it affect?

The bill directly affects nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, outside spending groups, voter outreach organizations, election administrators, and anyone who donates to a nonprofit. Federal regulators, including the FEC, would face tighter boundaries on investigating potential violations.

Why does it matter?

Political committees would be required to include a sworn certification of compliance on their regular filings, adding a new administrative requirement for election-related organizations. Election administrators and federal agencies would need to adjust existing practices to meet the new compliance standards.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Up to 5 years prison for illegal leaks
• Up to $250,000 fine per violation

Where does it stand?