U.S. Election Assistance Commission

 Correction: The original press release stated that $1.2 million in HAVA funds remain available to states. The correct figure is $1.2 billion.

WASHINGTON- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has delivered a report to Congress on state government spending of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds. The report covers expenditures from April 2003 through December 2007 that are authorized under Sections 101, 102 and 251 of HAVA. The final report may be downloaded at www.eac.gov.

States have spent 67 percent of the nearly three billion in funding they received under these three sections. HAVA does not specify the year in which the funds must be used, so the roughly $1.2 billion (including interest earned) of unspent funds remain available to states.

For funds spent in 2007, 64 percent went toward acquiring and administering voting system technology. The remainder was divided among the following election activities:

• 17 percent on developing and implementing computerized statewide voter registration databases
• 11 percent on federal election administration improvement
• 7 percent toward uncategorized election administration costs
• 1 percent on provisional voting and polling place information for voters.

Funds covered by the report are described below:

Section 101 Funds - may be used to comply with the requirements of HAVA Title III for uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements; improve the administration of elections for federal office; educate voters; train election officials, poll workers and volunteers; develop a state plan; and toll-free voter information hotlines.

Section 102 Funds - may be used only to replace punch card and lever voting systems that were in use during the November 2000 general federal election.

Section 251 Funds - may be used to implement provisional voting; provide information to voters on Election Day; procure voting systems; implement a statewide voter registration database; implement identification requirements for first-time voters who register to vote by mail; and other activities to improve the administration of elections for federal office.

States also received funds under Section 261 of HAVA to address the accessibility of polling places for individuals with disabilities. The EAC’s report does not include information about the expenditure of these funds because they are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

HAVA instructs the EAC to monitor the proper use of HAVA funds. For more information, including state audits, visit www.eac.gov.

The EAC is an independent bipartisan commission created by the Help America Vote Act.  The EAC serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration.  It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment.  It is also charged with developing and maintaining a national mail voter registration form.  The three EAC commissioners are Rosemary Rodriguez, chair; Gracia Hillman; and Donetta Davidson. There is one vacancy on the commission.