Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
Webpage last updated: November 27, 2023
The Help America Vote Act was signed into law in 2002. HAVA established a program to provide federal funds to states and territories to upgrade voting systems and improve the administration of federal elections. The law also mandated the creation of the Election Assistance Commission to administer the HAVA grant programs. At the state level, the financial administrative unit of the Division of Elections administers federal subgrant awards that provide funds to County Supervisors of Elections offices.
Since 2003, Florida has received federal grants totaling $235,716,643, as follows:
- Help America Vote Act /Section 101 Funds Awarded: $14,447,580 (2003)
The purpose of the funding was to fund States’ efforts to comply with Title III of HAVA and to carry out activities that improve the administration of federal elections. The law mandated federal election requirements for purposes of receiving money such as the replacement of outdated voting equipment, the creation of centralized statewide databases of registered voters, and improvements to the administration of elections.
- Help America Vote Act /Section 102 Funds Awarded: $11,581,377 (2003)
See above for purpose.
- Help America vote Act /Section 251 Funds Awarded: $148,633,048 (2003-2011)
See above for purpose.
- CARES Funds Awarded: $20,253,853 (2020)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 authorized federal fund awards to States to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, for the 2020 Federal election cycle.”
- Election Security Funds Awarded: $40,800,785 (2018-2020)
The Omnibus Appropriation Act of 2018 authorized federal fund awards to States “to improve election administration for federal offices, enhance technology and make security improvements”. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 authorized another round of federal fund awards States "to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements, as authorized under sections 101, 103, and 104 of [HAVA]." In total, Florida received $19,187,003 in 2018 and $21,613,782 in 2020.
Federal Subgrant Awards to Counties
Although the funds awarded to the State is federal, the Department of State must submit a budget request to the State legislature. A specific state legislative appropriation is required to authorize the release of these federal funds to support a subgrant program to counties. Counties are then allowed to spend the funds pursuant to the terms of a memorandum of agreement.
| Grant Year | Grant Funds | Grant Funds Disbursed Locally | Issuance Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2010-11 | $2,000,000.00 | $1,924,887.32 | 7/1/10 | 6/30/11 |
| FY 2011-12 | $2,000,000,00 | $1,812,575.61 | 7/1/11 | 6/30/12 |
| FY 2012-13 | $3,000,000.00 | $2,781,388.95 | 7/1/12 | 6/30/13 |
| FY 2013-14 | $2,000,000.00 | $1,923,969.32 | 7/1/13 | 6/30/14 |
| FY 2014-15 | $3,000,000.00 | $2,899.332.32 | 7/1/14 | 6/30/15 |
| FY 2015-16 | $2,000,000.00 | $1,859,055.19 | 7/1/15 | 6/30/16 |
| FY 2016-17 | $3,000,000.00 | $2,893,046.45 | 7/1/16 | 6/30/17 |
| FY 2017-18 | $2,000,000.00 | $1,923,007.01 | 7/1/17 | 6/30/18 |
| FY 2018-19 | $2,000,000.00 | $1,757,725.05 | 7/1/18 | 6/30/19 |
| FY 2019-20 | $19,187,000.00 | $16,907,620.00 | 7/18/18 | 11/6/18 |
| FY 2020-21 | $2,800,000.00 | $2,576.088.82 | 7/1/19 | 5/30/20 |
| FY 2020-21 | $3,476,000.00 | $3,123,336,22 | 7/1/20 | 9/30/21 |
| FY 2021-22 | $3,200,000.00 | $1,871,890.07 | 2/7/22 | 6/30/22 |
| FY 2022-23 | $7,999,925.85 | $6,955,981.65 | 1/31/23 | 9/30/23 |
HAVA Resources
- Federal HAVA (Public Law 107-252, 52 U.S. C. Chapter 209)
- HAVA Complaint Form (DS – DE 59)
- The HAVA complaint form is for persons who believe that a violation of Title III of HAVA has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur relating to voting system standards, provisional ballot voting, registration under the statewide voter registration system, or registration by mail.
- English PDF
- Español PDF
- US Elections Assistance Commission
- HAVA State Plan
- Under the Help America Vote Act, the State must submit a plan for how the State will or expects to spend federal funds to satisfy the requirements of the Act. Once submitted to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the Plan must be updated and resubmitted every time a material change occurs. The Secretary of State is the chief election official for Florida responsible for developing and amending the Plan. The HAVA State Plan as updated was submitted to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on May 12, 2009. These 2009 Updates replace the version of the elements that exist in the 2006 HAVA State Plan.
- 2009 Updates to 2006 HAVA State Plan
- 2006 HAVA State Plan - PDF
