Hays County Elections Office Awarded Over $200,000 Grant For A Safe Election Season

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners accepted a grant award for the Elections Administration Office.

The grant award was from the Center of Technology and Civic Life, a nonprofit organization tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) section 501(c)(3), for $289,075.

According to their website, CTCL is a team of civic technologists, trainers, researchers, election administration, and data experts working to foster a more informed and engaged democracy, and helping to modernize U.S. elections.

The money will be used exclusively for the “public purpose of planning and operationalizing a safe and secure election administration in Hays County in 2020.”

The elections administration office can use the funds for poll workers, Personal Protection Equipment supplies, election materials, and equipment with no matching funds required.

Commissioner Walt Smith congratulated the Elections Office for being awarded the grant noting the “substantial grant letter” that provides full details on why the office was awarded the grant.

According to CTCL, Hays County faces significant challenges in executing the November 3, 2020, election specifically fiscal challenges with additional supplies for personal protection equipment, additional office supplies related to ballot by mail processing, additional equipment for opening ballot by mail and folding ballots, temporary employees for assistance with ballot by mail processing and receiving and marketing and signage to introduce new protocols and procedures for in-person voting and hand delivery of mail ballots in a COVID-19 pandemic.

CTCL concluded that “the investments it outlined will allow Hays County to reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus for voters, election staff and poll workers; identify best practices; innovate to efficiently and effectively educate residents about how to exercise their right to vote; be intentional and strategic in reaching our historically disenfranchised residents and communities; and ensure the right to vote in a diversity of communities throughout the county.”

The acceptance of the grant was approved unanimously with no further comments.