My legislation criminalizing fraudulent campaign flyers designed to suppress voter turnout was enacted in 2005. The threat to our democracy now comes from sophisticated technology.

The Securing America’s Federal Elections Act (SAFE Act) passed the House of Representatives eight months ago, but it still sits on Senator Mitch McConnell’s desk. I had legislation drafted adopting the provisions in the SAFE Act that are needed in Maryland law.

House Bill 392 passed the House of Delegates today, 134-0. My legislation requires the disclosure of the foreign manufacture of any component of a voting system and of any material change to a component that occurred outside the United States. If such occurrences would compromise or influence the independence and integrity of an election, the contract may be terminated.

Congressman John P. Sarbanes chairs the Democracy Reform Task Force. In his letter of support for HB 392, he wrote, “All Americans deserve and expect their votes to count, unencumbered by foreign or domestic interference.”