Bexar County Elections Department receives $4 million for polling expansion, new equipment

On Nov. 24, the Bexar County Elections Department announced that it will receive $4 million in federal funds from the Help America Vote Act, or HAVA.

The gist

According to a news release, Bexar County Elections Administrator Michele Carew said the funds will be used to expand voting locations and to purchase more equipment.

“They originally offered $86,000. I am delighted that we will receive $4 million as it will allow us to expand our voting locations and also to purchase more poll pads,” Carew said in the news release.

According to the United States Election Assistance Commission, HAVA was passed in 2002 and is designed to improve voting systems and access. The law set new minimum standards in election administration for states to follow and provides funds to help states meet those standards.

Required HAVA programs and procedures include:

• Provisional voting
• Voting information
• Updated and upgraded voting equipment
• Voter identification procedures
• Administrative complaint procedures