HAVA DHHS GrantsAnnual Training for County Election Officials

NC State Board of Elections

August 14, 2012

HistoryThe Help America Vote Act (HAVA)was signed into law in

2002.

HAVA authorized the creation of federal grant programs to

support efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities have

full access to the election process.

HAVA assigned responsibility for the administration of the

law’s disability provisions to the Secretary of the

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

NC DHHS Funds Now Available

2010 Session HB 200Summary- Forbids the State Board of Elections from expending

any HAVATitle II funds and allows the State Board of Elections to retain

fundsuntil such time as Maintenance of Effort funds are

appropriated.

2012 Session HB 950Adds “except that voting accessibility funds granted by the

Secretary ofHealth and Human Services under Section 261 of HAVA may be

applied forand expended by the State Board of Elections to improve voting

accessibilityfor the disabled.

Permitted UsesMake polling places, including path of travel, entrances,

exits, and voting areas of each polling facility, accessible to individuals with the full range of disabilities.

Provide the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, to individuals with the full range of disabilities.

Provide training for election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers on how best to promote the access and participation of individuals with the full range of disabilities in elections for federal office.

Provide individual with the full range of disabilities with information about the accessibility of polling places

Examples of Permitted uses

Improving handicapped parking and paths of travel.

Door hardware, improvement of entrances and exits, ramps

, handrails, voting booths and signage.

Accessibility tools such as magnifying lenses, hearing aids,

privacy curtains and curbside alerts.

GuidelinesAccessibility funds for permanent improvements on

buildings or property will generally only be granted for publicly owned buildings and property. Funding for private facility improvement will be considered on a case by case basis based upon the following:

1. There is no public solution.

2. There is no other suitable private solution.

3. The county or a government entity agrees to contribute

public funds for use as part of the cost of the proposed

accessibility improvements .

4. County Board of Elections and owner agree in a written

document that this is a long term solution for at least two

federal elections.

Guidelines cont.Funds CANNOT be used for anything other than

accessibility.A detailed plan of expenditure needs must be included with

the application.All expenditures must be specific and well documented; a

detailed report of all funding will be required, until the money is either spent or returned.

Under no circumstances are these funds to be supplanted from the County Board of Elections budget by the county or budget office.

Counties who provide matching funds to make permanent changes will be given priority in grant approvals.

Approval ProcessOnce you submit your application (County

Grant Application and Precinct Grant Form) your application will be reviewed and determined if you qualify for DHHS grant funds. You will be notified by email of our decision. If your application is approved you will be emailed a Grant Acceptance Agreement.

Grant Acceptance AgreementThe Grant Acceptance Agreement is an agreement to

spend the HAVA DHHS funds as per your grant application and the Grant Acceptance Agreement and to abide by the audit requirements of HAVA.

By accepting this grant, you agree to document all expenditures by noting dates, purposes, and locations. In addition, receipts must be obtained of all such expenditures. Receipts should be submitted with your Financial Report. Your records may be subject to audit.

DHHS Funds DistributionAfter you have returned your signed Grant

Acceptance Agreement you should receive a check from the Department of Administration within two weeks.

DHHS Financial Report

The DHHS Grant Financial Report should be completed and

returned after all work has been completed and all invoices

have been paid. Include copies of all receipts with the

Financial Report. Any funds not spent or accounted for

must be returned with DHHS Financial Report.

Questions

If you have any questions please call or

email Neil Baddour at 919.715.8233 or

neil.baddour@ncsbe.gov