Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Training and Technical Assistance

The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) in the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funds for the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) for Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As). The P&A system, as established under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001) works to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities. HAVA provides for the award of grants for T/TA to assist P&As in promoting full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places; developing proficiency in the use of voting systems and technologies as they affect individuals with disabilities; demonstrating and evaluating the use of such systems and technologies by individuals with a full range of disabilities. HAVA programs are designed to establish and improve participation in the election process for individuals with a full range of disabilities. In each eligible state and territory, seven percent of HAVA funds are set aside for P&As to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in every step of the voting process. After receiving technical assistance, P&As may inform others on the availability of accessible voting equipment and its use. The purpose of the funds awarded under this announcement is to serve as a T/TA resource center to the nations 55 P&A. The center will support the work of the P&As, which is to ensure full participation in the electoral process for people with disabilities. The center will serve to support this work by serving as a resource to evaluate, support training in the use of voting systems and technology, and aid in assessing the availability and use of such technologies and systems.