'Challengers' - Blackwell III.C

updated 1-3 @ 4:55 a.m.

So what does HAVA say and do for the states? It begins by providing 3876,200,000,000 or (3.876.2 billion!!!) dollars in tax-payer subisdized, and federally funded, election's improvement monies to be distributed from 2003 - 2005. Section 103 guarantes each state a minimum of 5 million dollars for elections improvements.

By December 14, 2002, forty-five days after enactment of the bill, the General Services Administration (GSA) established, as mandated by law, a grant program to disperse the appropriate monies into a specifice state fund in each state treasury. In accordance with sections 101, 104 and 254(b) of HAVA 2002, Ohio's chief executive officer determines the spot in the treasury in which to place the money to make initial improvements. In 2003, the governemnt divides up 650 million for all 50 states, distributing the early money by earmarking 325 million for replacing old voting machines and 325 milllion for election administrations. The state may use part of this first influx of cash to to develop a state plan.

HAVA allocates $3,000,000,000 or (3 billion dollars) for distribution by the states, with a 5% match requirement by the states, on a formula basis to be used according to a “State Plan.” The individual state plans would explain how the state will spend any additional monies granted by the federal government. The Bill also created several grant programs to provide funding for accessibility ($100 million over 4 years); technology improvements ($20 million); equipment testing and technology ($10 million); protection and advocacy ($40 million over 4 years); and, student mock elections ($1.2 million over 6 years). Each state will spend a final $5 million on inspiring college students to vote. If needed, Congress will allocate further funds to pay for any shortages of money.

The various sections of HAVA detail that monies will be distributed only if the states provide the following:
(a) provisional voting for those who try to vote in the wrong precinct, or differently from the one in which they registered;
(b) an accurate statewide voter registration database;
(c) fair and nondiscriminatory voting system standards;
(d) identification requirements for voters who register by mail; and,
(e) submitting plans in a timely and deadline-meeting manner.

Ohio's total share of the golden pot at the end of the taxpayer funded rainbow came to $127,000,000 or (127 million) dollars. Ohio would pay an additional $5,000,000 (5 milllion) from its own coffers. The 13 member Elections Commisstion, chaired by SoS Blackwell allocated approximately $109,500,000 or (109.5 million) dollars for improvements to or replacement of the punch-card ballot system machines. The 13 members budgeted 17 million for various line-item expenses. The SoS used $5 million to update the registered voters databases. In 2003, $2.5 million will fund a statewide voter eeucation plan, while in 2004 an additional $2.5 million will fund voter educator programs run by the various county Boards of Elections.

Six months after receiving the first influx of cash from the federal cash-cow, the State must present a plan as to how exactly it plans to spend the money. If the state does not have enough time to implement new voting machines, then it can request a waiver until '06.

In a section that would cause some angst on election day '04, Section 302 explicated on the use of provisional ballots in the general election. The section limited a provisional ballot to casting a vote for federal office-seekers. The law also demanded of the states that a provisional ballot would be handed over to a potential voter if he or she claimed to live in a certain precinct having no record of such a name on said ballots, and received certification from the appropriate elections official in that precinct. Later on the appropriate state personal would have to ratify the provisionalists's vote before that vote could be counted. Congress patted itself on the back and moved on to other laws.


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