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Interest earned on the federal share is reported in the Federal Interest section of the FFR on lines 10. p - r. We must track interest generated on federal funds separately, so we have dedicated the following lines:
10p. Total Federal interest earned
10q. Federal interest expenditures
10r. Remaining Federal interest to be expended (line p minus q)

Interest earned from depositing cash to meet match requirements is reported on lines 12a-12b of the FFR. We must track interest earned from state match separately, and have dedicated the following lines:
12a. State Interest Earned
12b. State Interest Expended

True program income is reported as part of the Recipient Share on Line 10(l) using the additive method identified in line 10. Program income earned from the state match is reported in lines 12c and 12d.

See also “What is net program income and how is it reported on the Federal Financial Report (FFR)?”

Interest earned on state matching funds should be included in Line 12a in the State Interest Earned section. State Interest Expended will be reported on line 12b. It is likely that only a state’s 251 and Election Security grants have state match which earns interest as that match must be deposited in the Election Fund with the federal funds. This scenario would apply to those states that use cash as a way to meet their match requirements. Under Section 101 Election Improvement, any state match cash provided does not have to be deposited in the interest-bearing Election Fund.

A terminated system is one that never received certification from the EAC because the registered manufacturer terminated the application before testing was completed.

The states have a great deal of flexibility in how they deploy the federal grant funds.  The Reserve category on the budget worksheets are for funds that have not yet been budgeted by the States. As needs or threats become apparent, the funds designated in Reserve will move to other categories on the budget worksheet.  

Travel and lodging are allowable costs under the grant. If the conference directly supports the mission/activities of the election jurisdiction sending the employee, then this would be an allowable expense.

HAVA funds may be used to replace any voting equipment designated by the grantee or its subrecipients to be at the end of its useful life. The replacement must meet the standards established by HAVA, appropriations language, and any other applicable EAC guidance. Equipment title holders should follow local and state rules for the disposition of sensitive equipment.

The 2018 HAVA Election Security grant funds can be used for accessibility. Each state, and in some cases local jurisdictions if funds have been subgranted, have discretion on how the funds should be spent.  EAC encourages states to spend funds on accessibility.

Consistent with provisions in HAVA, states have discretion upon expenditures. The EAC can answer specific questions about how the money may be utilized, and will be capturing questions from states and sharing the answers in updated versions of this FAQ document. 

As a point of reference, the EAC is including along with these FAQs the section of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 that authorizes and appropriates the federal funds as well as pages 1 and 57 of “Division E – Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2018,” which is a joint explanatory statement that indicates congressional intent on how the funds may be spent. The joint explanatory language provides on page 57, that:

The bill provides $380,000,000 to the Election Assistance Commission to make payments to states for activities to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements, as authorized under sections 101, 103, and 104 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (P.L. 107-252). Consistent with the requirements of HAVA, states may use this funding to

  1. Replace voting equipment that only records a voter's intent electronically with equipment that utilizes a voter verified paper record;
  2. Implement a post-election audit system that provides a high level of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally;
  3. Upgrade election­ related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities identified through Department of Homeland Security, or similar scans or assessments of, existing election systems;
  4. Facilitate cybersecurity training for the state chief election official's office and local election officials;
  5. Implement established cybersecurity best practices for election systems; and
  6. Fund other activities that will improve the security of elections for Federal office.

Yes, this is an allowable expenditure and EAC encourages states and localities to explore this type of expenditure as an immediate way to augment cyber capabilities already in place.

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