What is the history of the Mock Election Program? 
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Section 295, authorized the EAC to award a noncompetive grant to the National Student and Parent Mock Election (NSPME) to fund a program of simulated national elections that permit participation by students and parents from each of the 50 United States, its territories, the District of Columbia, and U.S. schools overseas. This program was funded in FY 2004 and FY 2005.

The Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 authorized and funded a competitive grant program to support community involvement in student and parent mock elections. The program grants are available for nonprofit organizations and state government units to operate or supplement a program of simulated elections for students in secondary education programs around the country under the Help America Vote Mock Election Program (Mock Election Program). 

How do organizations apply for this funding? 
To download an application for the 2008 Mock Election grants, click here.

Where can I find more information on obtaining a DUNS number?
Any organization that wishes to apply for a federal grant must have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711, or you may request a number online at www.dnb.com.

How much will each grantee receive? 
The total amount of funds to be disbursed is at least $200,000. It is anticipated that between 1-35 awards will be distributed. The average award is anticipated to be $20,000. No award will be given for less than $10,000.

What can the funding be used for? 
Primarily, funds must be used by eligible grantees to operate or supplement a program of simulated federal elections at least five days before the general federal election on November 4, 2008. The program must permit participation by students enrolled in a secondary education program. 

Funds may also support other activities including, but not limited to:
• School forums and local cable call-in shows on the national issues to be voted on 
• Speeches and debates before students and parents by local candidates or their representatives 
• Quiz team competitions, mock press conferences, and speech writing competitions

Is there a deadline for submitting a request for the funding?
Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 21, 2008. Late applications will not be considered. 

If needed, will an extension to the deadline be granted?
The EAC may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.). Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Notification of any deadline extensions will be posted on the EAC’s Web site.

Does the grantee have to provide any matching funds? 
No. There is no requirement for matching funds.

Does this funding have to be spent in Fiscal Year 2008? 
No. The funds must be spent before December 31, 2008.

Are there any funding restrictions? 
Yes. Construction, indirect costs, voter registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities are not allowable expenditures under this program. 

States should be aware that they are subject to the cost principles outlined in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87 along with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments (“Common Rule,” Administrative Requirements, 53 FR 8087, March 11, 1988).

Nonprofit organizations should be aware that they are subject to the cost principles outlined in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-122.

Are there any reporting requirements for this funding? 
Yes. They include the following:

Narrative Reports: Due 30 days after the close of the grant period. A format for the narrative report will be sent to all grantees after the grants are awarded. 

Financial Reports: An SF 269 must be submitted on August 30, 2008, for the period ending July 30, 2008, and 30 days after the close of the grant period. 

Other Reports: To obtain grant funds, grantees will be required to submit SF 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement.

The required Standard Forms 269 and 270 are located online at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html.

Can my organization receive funding for election-related education that does not involve mock elections? 
No. Only organizations whose program primarily focuses on mock elections may receive funding. However, such organizations may use Mock Election funding to supplement simulated elections with related educational activities, such as quiz team competitions, election "issues forums," and speeches featuring candidates or their representatives.

How can I improve my organization's chances of receiving a grant? 
Preference will be given to applicants that are able to target larger audiences or unrepresented geographic areas as well as those whose simulations include voting systems similar to those the grantee's state will use on Election Day. 

When you ask for letters of support from a state board of education, will a letter from the National Association of School Boards of Education suffice? Do you need letters from each state board of education?
The National Association of School Boards of Education is consider an equivalent and will suffice. The letter should include an indication that the secondary education system covered by the agency intends to participate. The letter should state 1) support for the application; and 2) estimated number of secondary education students targeted.

The proposal indicates when funds must be spent by but does not seem to indicate when funds are likely to be received or when the budget period will begin. Can you share your intentions?
We anticipate funds to be awarded by mid-June 2008.

When you ask for a statement regarding the use of voting equipment from state or regional election officials, are you asking us to cover all 50 states if we are active in all 50 states?
A letter of support of the Mock Election program from state or regional election officials is one component of the application. If an applicant is not partnered with the election officials of the region covered, the applicant will receive fewer points; however, this will not disqualify a candidate.

What consideration are you able to give to election officials who cannot accommodate large numbers of students asking to use the equipment intended for the actual election just five days before the actual election?
The program does not require the mock election to be held five days before the actual election. The program prohibits the mock election to be held within five or less days of the election.

The availability of election equipment for the large numbers we reach and the problems of available transportation for young students, parental permissions for minors and the like would create a disincentive for many schools to participate. Is the Commission able to be flexible in view of the short timeline?
Election equipment is one part of the voting system. The voting system does not solely refer to the equipment used but also (though not limited to) ballot styles, registration procedures, absentee and/or early voting procedures. The application requests a statement that demonstrates the extent to which the proposed program will work with election administrators to ensure that the voting systems utilized during the mock election are similar to the voting systems used by voters in the project’s covered area.

What is secondary education?
Secondary education is considered grades 9-12, also known as high school.

If my organization operates in one state, are we able to partner with organizations in other states by filing a joint application?
Yes, an application may be developed jointly by more than one agency or organization although the application must identify only one organization as the lead organization and the official applicant. The other participating organizations can be included as co-participants, sub-grantees, or subcontractors. Applications that are developed jointly by more than one agency or organization that fail to identify only one organization as the lead organization and the official applicant will be considered non-responsive and returned without review. Please note that applicants who target a widespread area or an underrepresented area in the context of the entire HAVA Mock Election Program will be evaluated favorably. 

Whom can I contact for more information? 
For additional information on the Mock Election Program, please contact Julie Ruder or Edgardo Cortés at (202) 566-3100, or toll-free at (866) 747-1471. Additionally, you can submit questions via e-mail to mockelections@eac.gov.