WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) announced the 21 award recipients for the Help America Vote College Program (HAVCP). In the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress dedicated $1 million in funding for grants to encourage college students to serve as nonpartisan poll workers for the first time since 2010.
The EAC received more than 40 applications for a total request of over $3.3 million in funding from a broad range of educational institutions, local governments, and organizations. The EAC awarded the full $1 million in available HAVCP funding, including 14 Poll Worker Grants totaling $937,050 and seven Service Day Mini-Grants totaling $62,950.
The organizations selected for HAVCP awards include accredited colleges and universities, state and local election offices, and nonprofits across 19 states. HAVCP programming will engage more than 7,000 college students through targeted recruitment and training initiatives, civic education courses, and established partnerships with local stakeholders.
EAC Chairwoman Christy McCormick, Vice Chair Ben Hovland, Commissioner Donald Palmer, and Commissioner Thomas Hicks issued the following joint statement:
“The relaunch of the Help America Vote College Program has come at a pivotal time for election offices across the country. The EAC looks forward to seeing how the recipients use these funds to engage young people as poll workers and in the election process. The agency appreciates Congress’ recognition of the need to develop the next generation of poll workers and election workers. We hope the efforts of grantees will benefit their communities, and we will provide updates as their programming moves forward.”
According to the EAC’s Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), about one million poll workers are needed for a presidential general election. In the face of recent poll worker shortages, the issues of poll worker recruitment, training, and retention became increasingly important. The EAVS reported that roughly just 14% of poll workers deployed during the 2022 general election were between the ages of 18 and 40, indicating a continued need to recruit the next generation of poll workers. By encouraging college students to sign up to become poll workers, the EAC hopes to assist in the next election cycle and beyond.
HAVCP Poll Worker Grants
- Bowling Green State University (OH) - $77,383
- Charleston County Government (SC) - $76,861
- Clackamas County Government (OR) - $59,782
- Community College District 502 (IL)- $37,700
- Connecticut Secretary of State (CT) - $71,176
- Delaware County (PA) - $45,000
- El Paso County Community College District (TX) - $49,000
- Guam Election Commission (GU) - $66,745
- Miami Dade College (FL) - $65,550
- Oakland University (MI) - $96,000
- St. Joseph County (IN) - $41,705
- University System of Maryland (MD) - $78,521
- Weber State University (UT) - $84,368
- West Virginia University Research Corporation (WV) - $87,259
HAVCP Service Day Mini-Grants
- American Association of People with Disabilities (DC) - $10,000
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas (TX) - $10,000
- Borough of Manhattan Community College (NY) - $9,000
- Coconino County Elections Department (AZ) - $10,000
- Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation (GA) - $9,000
- League of Women Voters of Maine Education Fund (ME) - $10,000
- Rockford University (IL) - $4,950
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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate, and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. The EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.