U.S. Election Assistance Commission

WASHINGTON – The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will award a total of $750,000 in competitive grants under the Help America Vote College Poll Worker Program (College Program) to recruit college students to serve as poll workers.

“Poll workers answer our questions, show us how to use voting equipment and make sure everyone has a successful experience on Election Day,” said EAC Chair Gineen Bresso Beach. “They will continue to be essential to the success of our elections, and these grants will help election officials recruit the next generation of poll workers to ensure voters continue receiving excellent customer service.”

The two-year grant award will be used to recruit, train and support college students to assist state and local governments in the administration of elections by serving as nonpartisan poll workers or assistants. Proposals should include a two-year project plan and a budget supporting activities for election cycles in both 2009 and 2010.

If an organization received a College Program grant last year, they are eligible to apply only as a recompeting grantee. These grantees must develop innovative programs to recruit poll workers with disabilities and develop training material to help poll workers create receptive and accommodating polling place environments on Election Day.  

New applicants are eligible for awards up to $75,000, and recompeting applicants are eligible for awards up to $20,000.

How and When to Apply
Applications are due before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 16, 2009, and must be mailed or hand delivered to the EAC. Applications submitted electronically or by fax will not be accepted. The grant application and instructions can be downloaded at www.eac.gov/program-areas/grants. Questions regarding the program can be directed to Mark Abbott by sending an e-mail to HAVACollegeProgram@eac.gov. He can also be reached by calling (866) 747–1471 toll-free.

Eligibility Requirements
This competition is open to state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, community colleges and nonprofit organizations.

Grant Restrictions
Funds cannot be used to support any partisan, voter registration or get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities.

Background
The College Program grants are authorized by the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Since 2004, EAC has awarded 61 grants, totaling $1.65 million, to colleges and nonprofits to recruit, train and support college students serving as poll workers on Election Day.
The EAC has also developed the Guidebook for Recruiting College Poll Workers. 

The EAC is an independent commission created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.  The EAC serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration.  It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment.  It is also charged with developing and maintaining a national mail voter registration form. The three EAC commissioners are Gineen Bresso Beach, chair; Gracia Hillman, vice chair; and Donetta Davidson. There is one vacancy on the Commission.