Holt Increases Funding for Voting Access, Protection, Advocacy

(Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) yesterday successfully increased funding by $21 million for access and protection and advocacy systems for voters with disabilities, through an amendment to the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. 

 

“The Help America Vote Act was a landmark success for voters with disabilities. For the first time, it allowed these voters something that all Americans deserve – equal access to the voting process, the very mechanism of our democracy. Unfortunately, much of the funding that HAVA authorized to improve accessibility has never materialized.”

 

HAVA authorized $100 million to make polling places accessible to voters with disabilities and provide them with accessibility information. HAVA also authorized $10 million annually to help state protection and advocacy systems to ensure full participation in the electoral process for voters with disabilities, including the process of registering to vote, casting a vote, and gaining access to polling places. Despite these authorizations, Congress has appropriated only $55 million to fund accessibility and $22 million to fund protection and advocacy systems to date.

 

Rep. Holt’s amendment, accepted by voice vote, provided $15 million for voting accessibility under HAVA and $6 million for protection and advocacy systems. The amendment was revenue neutral – it offset this increased funding with an equivalent cut of $21 million from an administrative office in the Department of Education.

 

“Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and unless all eligible voters are ensured access to the polls, that fundamental right and the integrity of the electoral system are severely undermined,” said Holt.

 

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