NASS Summary of HAVA Spending by the States A total of 27 states responded to the survey through November 8, 2004. Responding States include: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NH, ND, OH, OR, PA, SD, UT, WV, WI, WA HAVA Title II Funds Distribution to the States 96% of the responding states have applied for and received their FY 03 HAVA federal funds. In addition, 74% of the respondents have applied for and received their FY 04 HAVA federal money. For those states that have not yet received those funds, the most common reasons were: state plans needed updating for FY 04, which then required a public comment period and publication time in the Federal Register;Administrative Complaint procedures had not yet been approved or implemented and No state matching dollars or insufficient state matching dollars as required by HAVA States Budgets using HAVA Authorized or HAVA Appropriated Figures States developed the first of their required state HAVA implementation plans in 2003. The budgets they included in those plans to implement HAVA were largely based on the numbers promised (authorized amounts) by Congress when HAVA was passed in October of 2002. 74% of the responding states used federal authorized amounts when calculating their budgets for FY 03. 63% of the respondents used federal authorized amounts when calculating their budgets for FY 04 and 65% used federal authorized amounts for FY 05. What Happens if the Promised Federal Funding is not Delivered Congress has appropriated $3 billion of the $3.8 billion promised for HAVA. However, because the large majority of states based their plans and budgets on the promised amount of $3.8 billion we asked the question of whether or not the states would be able to meet the required HAVA deadlines and fulfill all elements of their state plans. What they said was: 78% of the responding states said that they will still meet the HAVA deadlines, even if Congress does not provide all of the promised funding. However, only half of them will be able to fulfill all elements of their state plan with the reduced federal funds. For those that will have to scale back on their plans, the elements that will be cut will be voter education initiatives, training of election officials and poll workers and a reduction in the amount of equipment purchased. How are the HAVA Dollars being Spent? In most states HAVA funds will be spent on voting equipment, statewide database, voter education, poll worker training and administrative overhead (including provisional balloting.). Voting equipment will take up to 30% of the HAVA funds in 33%of the responding states. 20% of the respondents will spend between 30% and 60% on voting equipment and 33% of respondents will spend between 60% and 90% on voting equipment. The balance of the states did not give a percentage of the amount to be spent of voting equipment. Over half of the responding states will spend up to 40% of their HAVA funds on the statewide database and 1 in 5 will spend up to 70% of their HAVA funds on the statewide database. The remaining respondents did not provide a percentage. 44% of the responding states will spend up to 10% on poll worker training. All of the responding states recognized that the lion-share of training for poll workers is done at the county level. However, with the implementation of HAVA, 80% of the responding states are taking a more active role with the production of training materials, “train the trainer sessions”, and establishing training standards. We also learned that the majority of poll worker training at the local level takes place 30 to 60 days prior to an election. 63% of the responding states will spend up to 10% of HAVA funds on voter education. and 75% of the responding states used HAVA funds on extensive voter education efforts during 2004 including: Developing PSAs for radio, TV and billboards and media buys for those PSA’s; Voting Instructional guides; Voter ID flyers; Presentations to community organizations and schools; Mock elections; Mailing/publication of sample ballots;Educational/training videos; State voter guides — production and mailing; Production of multi-lingual materials; Educational posters How much have the States Spent to Date? We asked the states how much of the HAVA federal funds would be spent by the November 2004 election. 45% of the responding states said that up to 10% of their HAVA dollars will have been spent by November 2004. It is important to note that 10% of them are basing their responses on amounts promised by Congress, not just on the amounts received. 17% of the responding states will have spent up to 20% of their HAVA dollars. 19% of the states will have spent more than 20% of their federal HAVA funds with two of those responding saying they will have spent over 70% of their HAVA funds by November 2004. 19% of the responding states did not give a percentage spent. One state is still only spending state funds on the implementation of HAVA requirements as of November 2004. How much of the HAVA federal funds will have been obligated (contracts, etc) by the November 2004 election. 26% of the responding states will have obligated up to 20% of their HAVA funds by November 2004. Another 26% will have obligated up to 50% of their HAVA funds 22% will have obligated between 50% and 100% of their HAVA funds by the November 2004 election. The remaining states did not provide a percentage. However, it is important to note that 26% of the responding states were obligating authorized funds (not appropriated). It is also important to note that some of the states were involved in pending contractual agreements that could push there percentage of obligated funds higher, they were simply not certain if their contracts would be signed by November 2nd. Why haven’t the states spent more of their HAVA money? When educating Congress and the public about the need for full funding of HAVA, we often hear the statement that states haven’t spent all the federal funds they’ve already received. It is important to understand that many states will have balances in their HAVA bank accounts by design. 41% of responding states said they are viewing HAVA funds as a source of long-term funding to finance upcoming election reform improvements and technology upgrades. This will be done by setting up revolving accounts and loan programs to local governments. This was a suggestion that was made by congressional staff during training sessions and in the Carter/Ford Commission report.