U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) | #HAVA20

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was signed into law by President George W. Bush 

on October 29, 2002 and addressed a variety of improvements to voting systems and 

voter access that were identified following the 2000 election.

The 2000 election was a clear inflection point 

for our electoral system – not only revealing 

the challenges of our election infrastructure 

at the time, but also setting the stage for 

a continuous stream of improvements that 

have led to expanded voting access and 

technology nationwide. As we celebrate the 

20th anniversary of the Help America Vote 

Act (HAVA), we acknowledge the immense 

advancements made at the local, state, 

and federal levels since the passage of this 

landmark legislation.” 

Joint statement from EAC Commissioners 

Thomas Hicks (Chairman), Christy McCormick 

(Vice Chair), Ben Hovland, and Donald Palmer

“ HAVA at a Glance 

Created new mandatory minimum standards 

for states to follow in several key areas of 

election administration

Streamlined American elections and safeguarded 

our most vulnerable populations from accessibility 

restraints when voting including ensuring all voters 

can vote privately and independently

Provided funding to help states meet these new 

standards and continue to evolve by replacing 

voting systems, improving voter education and poll 

worker training, expanding provisional voting, and 

expanding accessibility offerings at polling places 

Established the U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission (EAC) as an independent, bipartisan 

federal agency charged with developing guidance 

to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary 

voting system guidelines, serving as a national 

clearinghouse of information on election 

administration, accrediting testing laboratories, 

certifying voting systems, and auditing the use of 

HAVA funds 

www.eac.gov | #HAVA20
HAVA has helped to facilitate numerous programs to assist voters on a state and 

national level, including: 

Testing and Certification Program: HAVA mandated 

the EAC to provide certification, decertification, 

and recertification of voting systems, as well as the 

accreditation of voting system testing laboratories. 

The Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 

are a set of specifications and requirements against 

which voting systems can be tested to determine 

if the systems meet required standards. Some 

factors examined under these tests include basic 

functionality, accessibility, and security capabilities. 

These national level voting standards were designed 

to meet the challenges ahead, to replace decade’s old 

voting machines, to improve the voter experience, and 

provide necessary safeguards to protect the integrity 

of the voting process. 

In 2021, the EAC approved the VVSG 2.0, paving 

the way for the next generation of voting systems 

across the country. The national security importance 

in the testing and protection of our voting systems 

has never been more elevated. 

The Election Administration and Voting Survey 

(EAVS) Comprehensive Report is an analysis of 

survey data from all 50 states, the five territories and 

the District of Columbia on the ways Americans vote 

and how elections are administered.

HAVA states that the Commission shall serve 

as a national clearinghouse and resource for the 

compilation of information and review of procedures 

with respect to the administration of federal 

elections. The EAC’s Clearinghouse Division is 

made up of former election officials and subject 

matter experts who work with EAC staff to provide 

materials that address the needs of election officials. 

There are three HAVA-mandated federal advisory 

boards that help the EAC fulfil its mission: the 

Standards Board, the Board of Advisors, and the 

Technical Guidelines Development Committee 

(TGDC). The boards are composed of election 

officials, experts from the field, and representatives 

of the government. In 2021, the EAC also 

established the Local Leadership Council composed 

of two local election official leaders from each state 

in order to gain feedback and perspectives from 

these key stakeholders.

The Help America Vote College Program grants 

are authorized under HAVA to encourage student 

participation as poll workers, to foster student interest 

in the elections process, and to prompt state and local 

governments to use students as poll workers.

Since the passage of HAVA, the EAC has developed and expanded its scope to create 

various initiatives around important electoral issues, such as: 

Cybersecurity: The EAC continues to work 

collaboratively with the Cybersecurity and 

Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other 

federal partners to manage risks to the nation’s 

election infrastructure, including voting technology 

and preemptive risk assessment tools. 

Poll Worker Recruitment: In addition to a variety 

of resources to inspire more Americans to sign 

up to become poll workers, the EAC created 

National Poll Worker Recruitment Day in 2020 to 

encourage people to help America vote by signing 

up to be a poll worker. 

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 

HAVA, the EAC launched Help America Vote Day 

in 2022 as a second day of action to encourage 

Americans to sign up as poll workers and distribute 

resources to assist voters. State and local election 

offices and other stakeholder groups from 41 states 

have participated in these efforts. 

Election Official Security: The EAC continues to 

publish resources and discussions around election 

officials’ safety and security. 

Funding: The EAC has distributed, monitored and 

provided technical assistance for $880 million 

in HAVA election security grants since 2018. 

During the 2020 federal elections, the EAC also 

distributed $400 million in grant funds provided by 

the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 

(CARES) Act to help states prepare for and respond 

to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since 2003, over $4.2 billion in HAVA funds has been 

awarded to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, 

and five U.S. territories (American Samoa, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern 

Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands). 

For more information on the EAC visit www.eac.gov/about-the-useac www.eac.gov | #HAVA20