Congress passed $1.5 billion for HAVA as part of the omnibus FY '03 budget

The appropriation has bad and good news. Funding for mobility access was cut from $50 million to $13 million. Funding for the P and A's was cut from $10 million to $2 million. There will be an FY '03 supplemental and we must organize to restore the cuts.

$650 million of "early money" will be sent to the states in two to six weeks. Each state will receive at least $5 million for the general improvement of elections plus an additional payment to replace punch card and lever machines. An additional $833 million is available for the purchase of accessible voting machines in development of a statewide voter registration database. These funds cannot be applied for until the state plan is approved. The disability community must be represented on the state planning body. For materials to help with implementation of HAVA go to the AAPD website and click the link for the Disability vote Project, then the link under Action Alert: "Recommendations on Implementation of the Help America Vote Act" or visit www.civilrights.org and click HAVA Advocacy Resources

AAPD Disability Vote Project
1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20006
V/TTY: 202-457-0046
V/TTY: 800-840-8844
FAX: 202-457-0473
AAPD website

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