Secretary of State Donetta Davidson Awards HAVA Funds to Colorado Counties to Improve Accessibility

Denver, August 18, 2005 - The Colorado Secretary of State's office recently awarded $108,184.18 to 12 counties to improve accessibility of their polling places/vote centers.

The funds awarded to the counties are as follows:

• Adams - $2,865.53
• Arapahoe - $20,571.22
• Broomfield - $6,801.30
• Cheyenne - $7,120.41
• Fremont - $2,805.88
• Gilpin - $7,100.00
• Jackson - $874.00
• Larimer - $41,852.79
• Otero - $6,835.25
• Phillips - $2,970.00
• Sedgwick - $5,887.70
• Yuma – $2,500.00

Last fall the Secretary of State's office awarded $73,746.02 to nine counties for similar purposes. The counties that received funds earlier this year Bent, Crowley, El Paso, Gilpin, Logan, Rio Grande, Pitkin, Prowers, and Washington. Thus far, the Secretary of State's office has awarded a total of $181,869.20 to 21 counties to enhance accessibility of polling places/vote centers for disabled persons. The counties provided a match of $24,523.20 - just over 13%. Within the last year counties have invested over $200,000.00 to improve accessibility.

Counties are using the funds for items such as additional signage, developing accessible voting booths, portable ramps, and for the installation of automatic doors. These sub-grants are from federal Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities grants the Secretary of State's office received from the Department of Health and Human Services, funded by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The Secretary of State's office expects to offer additional funds to counties later this summer to ensure that all polling places in Colorado comply with the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).