Purpose

• HAVA grants seek to improve the American election process by implementing state-of-the-art voting equipment in place of outdated systems, establishing a new federal clearinghouse to keep election information in check and creating minimum standards for states in regards to election administration. Grant monies go toward improved accessibility, new elections maintenance systems, new voter registration databases and voter outreach programs. The act also seeks to improve the election process for people with disabilities, including voters who are blind, hearing impaired or those who have mobility-related, intellectual or emotional impairments.
  
  

Eligibility

• HAVA grants cater to county governments. County government organizations reach out to state governments to receive HAVA funding, which in turn improves election procedures on county and state levels. For HAVA grants from the Administration of Developmental Disabilities and the Administration for Children and Families, nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status, faith-based organizations and community organizations are also eligible for awards.
  
  

Amounts

• The HAVA program, divided into four sections, has a total budget of nearly $4 billion, as of 2011. Individual county grant amounts vary wildly, as do total state HAVA budgets. For instance, Washington received $62.4 million for HAVA grants in 2003 while Pennsylvania received $22.9 million. In 2011, HAVA grants to improve access for individuals with disabilities had a total program budget of $367,184, an award ceiling of $183,592 and an award floor of $91,796.
  
  

Application

• Each state's secretary of state website provides applications for HAVA grants. Applicants must submit a detailed breakdown of the proposed use of funding, including thorough budget spreadsheet. The application also requires a resolution from the county's governing body. Grants.gov and the Federal Election Commission's website offer additional online application materials.