FY2026 (pava) hava protection & advocacy: voting access

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living awarded $188,180 to Disability Rights Maryland, Inc. (doing business as Maryland Disability Law Center) on October 1, 2025, under the Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities—Grants for Protection and Advocacy Systems program (CFDA 93.618).

Disability Rights Maryland delivers protection and advocacy services to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities across Maryland. The funded activities include education and training for individuals with disabilities on voting rights and electoral participation; advocacy and education efforts supporting Help America Vote Act (HAVA) implementation in the state; training for election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers on the rights of voters with disabilities and best practices for serving them; assistance to individuals with disabilities in filing complaints under Maryland's administrative grievance procedure and representation in related hearings; guidance to state and local governmental entities on physical accessibility of polling places; and training and technical assistance on accessible voting equipment and systems.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Maryland. Disability Rights Maryland is Maryland's designated Protection and Advocacy system. The organization holds active federal grant awards totaling over $490,000 annually across multiple disability-focused programs administered by HHS Administration for Community Living, SAMHSA, and the Department of Education.