Help America Vote College Program

 

The purpose of this program is: (1) to encourage students enrolled at institutions of higher education (including community colleges), to assist state and local governments in the administration of elections by serving as nonpartisan poll workers or assistants; (2) to encourage college students to become cognizant of the elections process and civic educations, and to assist in the smooth administration of elections in their community; and (3) to encourage state and local governments to use the services of the students participating in the Help America Vote College Program.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.)
Program Number
90.400
Federal Agency/Office
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Help America Vote Act of 2002, Title V, Public Law 111-111-117, 42 U.S.C. 15521-1523, Statute ,
Funded by Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law No: 117-328) and authorized under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Public Law 107-252, Title V, Help America Vote College Program
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
The following are eligible to apply for the Help America Vote College Program: (1) State controlled institutions of higher education; (2) private institutions of higher education; (3) community colleges; (4) non-partisan student organizations; and (5) non-profit organizations, other than institutions of higher education (including faith-based, community-based, and tribal organizations). EAC encourages applicants to forge robust partnerships to implement the grant and to sustain activities beyond the grant period of performance. The recommended partners for the HAVCP are institutions of higher education as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); community and technical colleges and systems, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions Program (MSIs) as designated by the Higher Education Act's Title III and V funding by the Higher Education Act's Title III and V funding.
Beneficiary Eligibility
College and University Students, election officials.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. HAVCP Poll Worker Program - Apply in Grants.gov. Search for an open EAC funding opportunity in Grants.gov and review the solicitation requirements. Complete and submit the required documents in Grants.gov at least 48-72 hours prior to the Grants.gov deadline to allow for time to correct any problems or errors. The Grants.gov portion of your application includes the SF-424, SF-LLL, and the Grants.gov Attachments Form. Submit the following application components in as uploads to the Grants.gov Attachments Form: A. HAVCP Poll Worker Application - Fillable Form including Project Narrative and Budget Narrative B. Budget Worksheet C. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) Service Day Mini-Grant Program - Apply by email to HAVCP@eac.gov. Complete and submit HAVCP Service Day Mini-Grant Application Form. Specified instructions will also be published in the Federal Register, at EAC.gov, and at Grants.gov.
Award Procedure
Upon selection of awardees, the Election Assistance Commission will issue a Notice of Grant Award. EAC will authorize the Treasury Department to disburse funding identified in the agreement through the Payment Management System (PMS) to the applicant on reimbursement or advance basis to be drawdown as expenses arise. Per 2 CFR ?200, the timing and amount of advance payments must be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements by the non-federal entity for direct program or project costs and the proportionate share of any allowable indirect costs. Grantees will be able to request payments as often as practical for their program.
Deadlines
February 18, 2010 to March 31, 2010 As specified in announcement or application instructions. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 30 to 60 days. Potential awardees will be required to pass two checks during the application review process. First, the EAC will conduct an initial review confirming that the application complies with all application requirements as outlined in the application kit. This initial review will also confirm the applicant is an eligible applicant as outlined in the application kit. The second check EAC will perform prior to determining awardees will be a pre-award risk assessment. The risk assessment will involve a due diligence verification that the applicant is eligible to receive federal funds, a review of the applicant organization's operational and financial management capabilities to manage any federal funding, the applicant's past performance managing EAC grant funding, and any other programmatic risk identifiable through publicly available information.
Appeals
From 1 to 15 days. Final funding decisions are made by the Election Assistance Commissioners. After notification of award or denial, applicants have 10 business days to request to review the application's scores and appeal the decision based on one of the following criteria: - Incorrect information was provided by the EAC. - Historically underrepresented groups will be denied services without HAVCP funding - Scores are not representative of work done by the program Appeals must be addressed to the commissioners and received in writing by the deadline outlined in the notice of funding decision. Appeals must include a written justification for the appeal based on one or more of the above criteria. Appeals not based on the above criteria will not be considered. The commission will make a final decision about all appeals within 60 days of receipt.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Poll Worker Grant Program - The EAC will assess the applications based on the Program Design/Strategy (50%), Organizational Capability (35%), and Budget (15%) selection criteria using the scoring rubric included in the application kit. Service Day Mini-Grant Program - The EAC will assess the applications based on the Organizational Characteristics (20 points), Program Design/Strategy (5 points), and Budget (5 points) selection criteria using the scoring rubric included in the application kit. The EAC will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations detailed in the Notice. All staff reviewing applications will be screened for conflicts of interest. Additional details will be available in the notice of funding opportunity published in the Federal Register, at EAC.gov, and at Grants.gov.
How may assistance be used?
Help America Vote College Poll Worker Grant Program - The EAC is particularly interested in supporting programs that propose partnerships between various student and university organizations and local election officials to garner college student interest in elections and create meaningful activities for students leading up to and on Election Day. As applicants develop their proposals, they should keep in mind that a successful poll worker program should be designed to encourage participation among college students without partisan or ideological bias. Allowable activities may include, but are not limited to:  Salaries for Project Coordinators and assistants  Recruitment materials such as flyers, brochures, and t-shirts  Websites and social network strategies for marketing  Training materials  Community volunteer recruitment and training  Travel expenses for students serving as poll workers on Election Day  Surveys and analysis of participation rates, reactions, and recommendations  Establishing operational policies and procedures that help ensure student poll workers will be used in a constructive and effective manner on Election Day  Stipends for poll worker training and for service on Election Day. Help America Vote Service Day Mini-Grant Program - Help America Vote Service Day Mini-Grants will help elevate civic participation on college campuses and inspire college students to volunteer their time and talents to help others participate in the democratic process as poll workers. The mini-grants will support poll worker recruitment efforts on National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. Help America Vote College Program Service Day grants will support projects that recruit, train, and encourage college students to assist state and local governments in the administration of elections by serving as poll workers or assistants. Project funds must be used for tasks and activities carried out without partisan bias and without promoting any political point of view regarding election issues or candidates. Pre-award costs can be requested by applicants approved for funding under this Notice, but are subject to approval from EAC per Office of Management and Budget guidelines.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
HAVA Title IX, Section 902, authorizes EAC to audit or examine books, documents, papers and records of any recipient that are deemed pertinent to the payment; stipulates that the provision applies to all recipients of payments under the Act; requires that all funds provided under the Act are subject to mandatory audit by the Comptroller General at least once during the lifetime of the program, with the same access to records as EAC; and requires that, if the Comptroller General determines that an excess payment has been made or the recipient is not in compliance, the recipient must pay the office that made the payment an amount that reflects the excess payment or the proportion representing noncompliance.
Records
Follow requirements as outlined in 2 CFR ? 200.334 - Retention requirements for records. HAVA Title IX, Section 902, requires recipients of payments under the Act to keep records consistent with sound accounting principles to facilitate an effective audit and stipulates that the provision applies to all recipients of payments under the Act.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 10%. At the time of award, applicants must demonstrate either cash and/or in-kind and “on-hand and/or commitments, or a combination thereof, to meet the required 10 percent match, based on the amount of Federal grant funds requested. Match must be met by the project end period.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Help America Vote College Poll Worker Grant Program – 24 months Help America Vote College Service Day Mini-Grant Program – 12 months Reimbursement and Advance as needed
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Office of Grants Management
Headquarters Office
Tina Bateman
633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005 US
HAVCP@eac.gov
Phone: 866-747-1471

Samantha Cordova
633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001 USA
HAVCP@eac.gov
Phone: 866-747-1471
Website Address
https://www.eac.gov/payments_and_grants/help_america_vote_college_program
Financial Information
Account Identification
95-1650-0-1-000
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22 FY 23 est $1,000,000.00; FY 24 FY 11 est $750,000.00; FY 10 est $750,000.00; FY 09$750,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Help America Vote College Poll Worker Grant Program - $45,000-$100,000 Help America Vote College Service Day Mini-Grant Program - $3,000-$10,000
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Help America Vote Act of 2002, P.L. 107-252; 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Grant Agreement
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



Federal Grants Resources