HHS Polling Place Accessibility grants available for County Auditors through SOS Office
Pierre, SD – The Secretary of State’s office will be providing the opportunity for Polling Place Accessibility grants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for County Auditors to ensure their polling places comply with the rules enacted by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Applicants must be County Auditors. Currently there is $257,629 available for grant applicants. If the project site is the County Courthouse the project can be reimbursed up to 75%, for non-courthouse polling places the project can be reimbursed up to 100%. Any amount in the fund over $200,000 at the end of the year will be reverted back to the federal government.
Currently two counties are utilizing the grant opportunities. Stanley County is installing an elevator in their courthouse with the grant while Walworth County is installing an automatic door opener.
Possible project examples include but not limiting to are automatic door openers, elevator, chair lift, new ramps, replace counter height desk with a lower, more accessible desk.
Through these improvements South Dakota’s historical courthouses and polling centers are being brought up to modern accessibility standards and increasing the ease of use for voters with disabilities.
County Auditors may apply by contacting the Secretary of State’s office at 605-773-3537.
In conjunction with the HHS Grant Program discussion last week the Secretary of State’s office conducted a wide-ranging review and training with County Auditors from across South Dakota including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) List Maintenance, Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the formation of a HAVA grant board – 4 county auditors, 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats, update on the Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) voting equipment and Recreational Vehicle (RV) Voters.
The two day meeting was a valuable way for the County Auditors and Secretary of State’s office to work together through training and educational opportunities.
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