"Help America Vote Act of 2002"
Please note: These estimates are based on formulas provided by the General Services Administration which assume some estimations based on reductions to stay within the authorized funding level and for minimum payments.
Election Administration Improvement (Title I)
Based on our percentage of the nation’s total voting age population and the prescribed minimum payments in the act, Washington is eligible to receive approximately $6.6 million in Election Administration Improvement Funding.
Punch Card Replacement (Title I)
Each state will receive $4000 for each precinct that utilized punch card equipment in the 2000 General Election.
Under this formula, including a 15% reduction to stay within the authorized funding, Washington is eligible to receive $7.4 million for the replacement of punch card equipment.
- The General Services Administration formula includes the reduction of 7% on the total payments under Title I for the $5M minimum payments to each state. This equals a total payment to Washington under Title of $13,120,816.
- Congressional Research Service memorandum estimates fund allocation for the two programs in Title I to total $14,045,636 without providing specifics on how the figure was ascertained.
Requirements Payments (Title II, subtitle D, part 1)
For Fiscal Years 2003 through 2005, Washington could receive up to $62.8 million that would require a 5% match of $3.1 million, by the state.
- Congressional Research Service memorandum estimates fund allocation for requirements payments at $60,245,454, without providing specifics on how the figure was ascertained.
Access for the Disabled (Title II, subtitle D, part 2)
We may compete for grants to improve access for the disabled. For these grants a total of $100 million is authorized for Fiscal Years 2003-2005.
Research on Voting Technology Improvements (Title II, subtitle D, part 3)
We may compete for grants to research voting technology improvements. For these grants, a total of $20 million is authorized for Fiscal Year 2003.
Pilot Program for Testing Equipment and Technology (Title II, subtitle D, part 4)
We may compete for grants to establish pilot programs to test equipment and technology. For these grants, a total of $10 million is authorized for Fiscal Year 2003.
Protection and Advocacy Systems Payments (Title II, subtitle D, part 4)
Each state’s protection and advocacy system, as defined by federal law, will receive payments based on a formula to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities. For these payments, $10 million is authorized for Fiscal Years 2003-2006.
"Help America Vote Act of 2002"
Impact of federal election reform in Washington State
New Election Administration Requirements
- By 2003, a voter who registers by mail must provide a copy of photo identification or a number of other pieces of identification.
- By 2004, election officials must post voting information at the polling locations including: sample ballots, dates and times of elections, instructions on voting, instructions for voters who register to vote by mail and who are voting for the first time, and voters’ rights.
- By 2004, a computerized statewide voter registration list must be adopted that is a uniform, official, centralized, interactive system administered by the state and which contains the record of every individual legally registered to vote.
- By 2004, any voter who casts a ballot after the polls have closed because of a court order will vote a provisional (special) ballot that is separated from all other ballots
- By 2004, individuals registering to vote must provide a drivers license number or the last four digits of their social security number if they do not have a drivers license. Individuals who do not have either are assigned a unique identification number. Election officials must check either the drivers license or social security number against numbers in existing databases.
- By 2004, mail-in registration forms must include check boxes including the questions, "Are you a citizen of the United States of America?" and, "Will you be 18 years of age of age by election day." Included with the questions shall be the following statement: "If you check "no" in response to either of these, do not complete the form."
- By 2006, voting systems in Federal Elections must provide voters the ability to review their ballot, be able to produce a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity, provide accessibility for voters with disabilities, provide alternative language accessibility, and must not exceed specified error rates.
- To receive funding under this act, states must adopt a plan with the advice and assistance of a committee of local election officials and citizens appointed by the chief state election official.
- States are required to establish administrative complaint procedures to make determinations on grievances within three months of the complaint filing. States are required to provide a remedy or dismiss the complaint and publish their results.
- To receive funding under this act, states must certify the following: that it has a state plan; it has a plan for establishing administrative complaint procedures; it is in compliance with existing federal law; that funds are sufficient and will not be used for purposes inconsistent with the act, and a 5% match has been appropriated by the state.
- States must designate a single office providing information about registration and absentee ballots to overseas and uniformed voters. Further, local jurisdictions must report the number of military and overseas ballots sent and the number returned for all federal elections.
- States are required to submit reports on the activities conducted and equipment purchased with each grant.
