2020 Help America Vote Act (“HAVA”) Security and Voting Equipment County Grant Disbursement

On December 20, 2019, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The Act included $425 million in new HAVA funds. The funding was made available to all states to improve the administration of elections for federal office, including to enhance voting technology and make election security improvements

The 2020 HAVA Election Security Funding marks the second new appropriations for HAVA grants in the past two years. This funding provides states with additional resources to secure and improve election administration.

West Virginia's share of this federal funding is $4,054,986. There is a match required by the counties of 50% for voting equipment and 15% for security upgrades and e-poll books. The leveraging of the federal and state funds have allowed for a majority of counties to upgrade voting equipment since the 2016 General Election.

On April 27, 2020, Secretary of State Mac Warner notified the Election Assistance Commission that West Virginia intended to distribute the $4 million to the counties through a grant application process in which counties may submit applications for proposed purchases and reimbursements to the HAVA Grant and Loan Board for evaluation. The HAVA Board then offers recommendations to the West Virginia State Election Commission for final grant approval or rejection.