New Hampshires Approach to the State Plan for the Help America Vote Act HAVA Disabilities Access and

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New Hampshires Approach to the State Plan for
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)Disabilities
Access and Voting Systems Task Force
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Presentation

• History, background
• Guiding Principles
• Plan Timeline
• 60 days and counting
• New Hampshires share
• Federal requirements
• Mission, vision, goals, objectives
• Ground rules

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Background

• Polling place accessibility laws adopted in
  recent years.
• Help America Vote Act adopted in October 29,
  2002.
• Secretary of State assigned one person.
• Project planning format.
• No federal or state money allocated yet, but
  expected.

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Guiding Principles

• Set expectations funding, participants, time
  frames
• State plan as framework
• Include steps to get the answers, not the answers
  themselves
• Engage Executive and Legislative branches in
  planning
• Reinforce need for collaboration with local
  election officials
• Emphasis on accessibility for individuals with
  disabilities

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New Hampshires State Plan Timeline 2003

• April 1-19 Preliminary executive review of plan
• April 20 Preliminary draft of plan to governor
• May 1-10 Preparation for state publication
• May 11 - June 11 Public inspection period
• June 11 21 Incorporate public feedback
• June 22 July 29 Support EAC Review
• July 30 Aug. 20 Prep for Federal Register
• Aug. 21 Sept. 5 Public inspection in Fed.
  Register
• Sept. 6 13 Incorporate public feedback
• Sept. 14 Governor certifies plan

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60 days and counting

• Assign state resources.
• Analyze HAVA and assess impact on state.
• Draft and pass legislation covering early
  deadlines.
• Educate participants on impact of requirements.
• Establish state plan task forces.
• Hold meetings on state plan.
• Vet state plan and get buy-in.

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New Hampshires share
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Federal Requirements

• One direct recording electronic voting system, or
  other voting system equipped for individuals with
  disabilities at each polling place.
• The voting system shall be accessible for
  individuals with disabilities including
  non-visual accessibility for the blind and
  visually impaired, in a manner that provides the
  same opportunity for access and participation
  (including privacy and independence) as for other
  voters.

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Voting systems standards

• Manual audit capacity
• Permit the voter to verify votes selected.
• Opportunity to change the ballot
• If the voter selects more than one candidate for
  a single office
• Notify the voter what he or she has done.
• Notify the voter about the effect.
• Provide the opportunity to change vote

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Polling Place Accessibility Grants 2003,
2004, 2005

• U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  will make payment to eligible state and local
  governments on competitive basis. Eligible state
  and local governments will submit an application
  to the HHS describing what they will use the
  money for.
• Appropriate uses include physical improvements to
  path of travel, entrances, exits, voting areas
  for disabled, including blind and visually
  impaired. Could include providing polling place
  accessibility information and training for
  election officials, poll workers and volunteers.
• Payments to state and locals will be for a year.
  Amount will be determined by Secretary of HHS.
  Grant process necessary?
• Congress actually appropriated 13 million for FY
  2003, vs. 50 million that it authorized. It
  authorized 25 million for FY 2004, and 25
  million for FY 2005. Notwithstanding competitive
  aspect, one half of one per cent of 13 million
  in 2003 is 65,000.

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Todays Agenda

• Mission
• Vision
• Goals
• Objectives

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Mission

• Definition
• The mission sets forth the broad philosophical
  purpose of voting systems and disabilities access
  and the supporting organization. It is a brief
  2-3 sentence description of why this project
  exists, its purpose and for whom.
• Questions it answers
• What is the purpose of the project, for whom and
  why does it exist?

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Vision

• Definition
• The vision describes where election officials see
  themselves going in the area of voting systems
  and disabilities access, and how they want to be
  seen by others. The vision usually contains very
  lofty ideals that represent stretch-goals.
• Questions it answers
• How do the state elections officials of the state
  want to be seen in the future, by their eligible
  voters, campaign participants, elected officials,
  other stakeholders, and employees?

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Goals

• Definition
• Goals are general ends towards which state
  election officials direct their efforts. They
  are broad statements of policy that are
  ambitious. They provide the framework for the
  strategic plan.
• Questions they answer
• How are the state election officials going to
  ensure the what, for whom and why as
  detailed in the mission statement?

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Objectives

• Definition
• Objectives are specific measurable outcomes that
  can be achieved in a foreseeable amount of time.
  SMART (specific, measurable, relevant, and
  time-based) statements that articulate the goals
  of the election officials.
• Questions they answer
• What measurable activities are necessary to meet
  the what, for whom and why set forth in the
  goals, including targets?
• How will you know when these targets have been
  reached?

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Ground Rules

• Be on time
• Avoid interrupting others
• Participate
• Respect others opinions
• Do not engage in personal attacks