Despite the allocation of millions of dollars in federal grants for election security, a recent investigation by NPR has revealed that a significant portion of the funds were either misspent or not effectively utilized. The grants were intended to enhance voting infrastructure, including keycard access, bulletproof glass, and cybersecurity risk assessments. However, in many cases, the money was directed towards duplicative services or exercises that did not directly benefit election security. Election officials expressed disappointment that the allocated funds did not address their most urgent needs. The haphazard distribution of the grants highlights the challenges faced by local election officials due to inconsistent federal funding and the need for a more comprehensive approach to ensuring the security and integrity of the voting process.