Adopted Recommendation Provides Clarity to Election Offices on Usage of HAVA Grants for Improvements that
Previously May Have Been Cost Prohibitive
WASHINGTON, DC - On August 28, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) held an in-person public meeting on issues facing voters with disabilities ahead of the 2024 presidential election titled, “Closing the Accessibility Gap: Voting in 2024 and Beyond.” Event speakers included representatives from the United States Access Board, the Indiana Election Division, El Paso County Elections Department in Texas, the Heldrich Center at Rutgers University, and the University of Florida.
More than 40.2 million people with disabilities are estimated to be eligible to vote in the 2024. presidential election. According to a report the EAC released in partnership with Rutgers University, the gap in voter turnout of people with disabilities compared to voters without disabilities has shrunk from 16.8% in 2000 to 11.3% in 2020. In support of further closing this gap ahead of this November, the EAC has released accessibility research, highlighted best practices, and created a video training series for election officials over the past year.
During the meeting, the EAC voted to adopt a recommendation that allows election offices to fully allocate the cost of allowable, reasonable, and necessary for the implementation of Federal requirements, including accessibility requirements to Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds. With this new policy, election offices may now fully apply HAVA funds to upgrades that previously may have been cost prohibitive.
Chairman Ben Hovland, Vice Chairman Donald Palmer, Commissioner Thomas Hicks, and Commissioner Christy McCormick issued the following joint statement on the new policy:
“The EAC is committed to helping all eligible voters, including the more than 40.2 million Americans with disabilities, cast their vote privately and independently. This new funding policy is an important step forward to implementing the EAC’s best practices and training resources in both current and future HAVA Security Grant Funding. However, through our frequent visits with state and local election officials nationwide, we realize this is not enough. It is imperative for election offices to secure more and consistent accessibility funding to fully support a better voting experience for all.”
The four EAC Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation that the Commission consider the cost to implement Federal requirements pertaining to the administration of elections as direct costs when the costs are determined to be reasonable and necessary.
A recording of today’s meeting is available on the EAC’s YouTube channel. A copy of the policy recommendation is available here.
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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.