Georgia Secretary of State Secure the Vote/HAVA Grant Opportunities

Overview:

In the 2019 regular session, the Georgia Legislature passed HB316 and approved bond funding of up to $150 million to provide for a new verifiable paper ballot Statewide Voting System (SVS) for all counties in the state. Also, in 2018, Georgia received funds from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), some of which Secretary Raffensperger has authorized for direct grants to counties. These grants will be for the purpose of bolstering cyber and physical election systems security, making polling places and voting more accessible, and providing for general purposes of implementing the new SVS.

 

Reimbursement Grant:

To receive the funds the county must (1) have expended the monies to be reimbursed, (2) provide documentation of the spend, including narrative and receipts and (3) assure the request satisfies the requirements under HAVA.

 

Grant Types and Levels:

There are three available programs for the grant reimbursement: Security (both physical and cyber) such cameras and access control; Accessibility (ADA) such as enhanced wheelchair access or touchscreen mounts to lower to wheelchair level; and General Implementation, such as shelving, tables, booths, etc. Both Security and Accessibility will be reimbursed at 3 to 1 up to $15,000, while General Implementation will be reimbursed at a rate of 1 to 1 up to $10,000. No grants will be made for consumables. Grants are to be made for expenditures for items that will be used in multiple elections. All grant decisions will be solely at the Secretary’s discretion.

 

Application Process and Deadlines:

Applications for grants must be submitted with required documentation to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office during the grant period. The grant application period opens January 1, 2020, and the period will remain open until April 30, 2020. The Secretary of State will have sole discretion on the awarding of grants.

 

Click here for more information including a grant application checklist.

Click here to obtain the grant application.

 

Questions & Comments:

Questions and comments concerning this program should be submitted to: STV Grants c/o Elections Division,

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 802, West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334, email at [email protected].