DRC Programs
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
The Help America Vote Act, which was signed into law on October 29, 2002, will overhaul federal elections in the United States through new set of minimum voting standards that each state and territory must follow. The Act also authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide funds to the P&A of each state and territory to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) contains several provisions that will enable State and local units of government responsible for elections and individuals associated with operating the election process to establish, expand, and improve access to and participation in the election process by individuals with the full range of disabilities. Grant funds are for the purpose of providing services to individuals with disabilities within the State, as well as education and advocacy that ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in the electoral process.
Funding for HAVA-related activities is provided through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Click here to review ADD information about this program.
Click here for links to rights protection, advocacy, services, and support resources for persons with disabilities.
For an excellent article which focuses mainly on Arkansas election law developments, including Help America Vote Act, read '2007 Election Law Issues, Legislation and Reforms,' by Herbert Cihak, Professor and Director of Law Library pgs 1-44, Arkansas Law Notes 2007, Reports to the Arkansas Bar by the Faculty of the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville.
Arkansas Disability Population and Voting
| Residents with Disabilities | 576,471 |
| % of Total Population | 23.6 |
| Voting-Aged Population (VAP) with Disabilities | 529,563 |
| % of VAP | 26.6 |
| Estimated VAP with Disabilities who voted in 2000 | 202,293 |
| Estimated % VAP who voted in 2000 | 38.2 |
| Estimated VAP with Disabilities who did not Vote in 2000 | 327,270 |
| Source: US Census SIPP 1997 | |
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