Texas counties sue feds for trying to tie election security policies to anti-terrorism funding

El Paso and Harris counties, joined by cities in Tennessee and Ohio, argue these new federal demands are unconstitutional, claiming they would cost local governments millions to implement. The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in June it would withhold 20 percent of its Homeland Security Grant Program funds. This withholding applies unless grantees comply with five new requirements. These mandates would significantly change how local officials conduct elections. They include transitioning from QR and bar code voting machines to paper ballots. Manual ballot audits are also required. Voter registration must run through DHS's SAVE system, actions the plaintiffs contend undermine election security and public safety.