HAVA Election Security Grants
Active
- Assistance listing
- 90.404
- Grant awards
- 391 $4,725,116,828 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 95-1651-0-1-808
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The US Election Assistance Commission distributes HAVA Election Security Grants (CFDA 90.404) to fund voting equipment replacement, post-election audit systems, election cybersecurity infrastructure upgrades, and cyber security training, with the most recent awards issued on December 21, 2020.
This program has been substantially inactive since late 2020. The portfolio shows 391 total awards across two funding cycles—164 awards in 2018 and 227 awards in 2020—with no grants awarded in the five years following the December 2020 distribution. The program operates as formula grants distributed to states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia under the Help America Vote Act, with allocations calculated by the EAC using a statutory formula rather than competitive selection.
Funded activities center on election administration improvements for federal elections: replacement of electronic-only voting equipment with voter-verified paper ballot systems; implementation of post-election audit procedures designed to achieve high confidence in vote tally accuracy; upgrades to election-related computer systems to close cybersecurity vulnerabilities; election staff cybersecurity training; and adoption of election systems cybersecurity best practices. Representative 2020 awards included California ($38.9 million), Texas ($26.2 million), New York ($21.9 million), Florida ($21.6 million), Pennsylvania ($15.2 million), and Illinois ($14.9 million), alongside smaller awards to U.S. territories set at $600 thousand each.
The assistance type is exclusively Formula Grants; all 391 awards were distributed under a statutory allocation formula. The US Election Assistance Commission is the sole funding source for all $4.73 billion in federal obligations. Individual state award amounts ranged from $600 thousand (U.S. territories) to approximately $38.9 million, with variations reflecting state population and election administration structure. All funds are available until expended, and recipients must maintain records consistent with sound accounting principles to satisfy audit requirements under HAVA Title IX, Section 902.
No grant opportunities are currently posted or have been posted since the 2020 cycle. Pursuit of this program depends on whether Congress appropriates new funding and the EAC initiates a subsequent distribution cycle; current data does not support active solicitation.
Objective and description
- Objective
As authorized under Section 101 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Public 107-252) and provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 the funds are to be used to improve the administration of elections for
- Description
States may use the funds, consistent with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act, to replace voting equipment that only records a voter's intent electronically with equipment that utilizes a voter-verified paper record; implement a post-election audit system that provides a high-level of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally; upgrade election-related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities; facilitate cyber security training; implement election systems cybersecurity best practices; and fund other activities that will improve the security of elections for Federal office.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
As defined by HAVA, only state recipients (including U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia) are eligible for this formula funding. Assistance is to be used to improve the administration of elections for federal office, including enhancing election technology and making election security improvements.
- Beneficiary eligibility
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana and American Samoa.
- Uses of assistance
States may use the funds, consistent with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act, to replace voting equipment that only records a voter's intent electronically with equipment that utilizes a voter-verified paper record; implement a post-election audit system that provides a high-level of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally; upgrade election-related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities; facilitate cyber security training; implement election systems cybersecurity best practices; and fund other activities that will improve the security of elections for Federal office.
- Use restrictions
HAVA funding may not be used for non-HAVA activities and voter registration and voter outreach activities that are not related to voter education.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Funds are available until expended.
How to apply
- Award procedure
The Election Assistance Commission will provide states with the allocation amount from the HAVA formula. State will request the amount, certify to meet the requirements and the EAC will issue a Notice of Grant Award with special conditions and make the disbursement via EFT. Post disbursement, the EAC will review program narratives and budgets for improving security of election systems. Upon approval, the special conditions will be removed as applicable.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 391 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Secretary Of State | $395,234,864 | 8% |
| 2 | Texas Secretary Of State | $262,614,868 | 6% |
| 3 | NYS Board Of Elections | $243,839,514 | 5% |
| 4 | Florida Department Of State | $212,052,972 | 4% |
| 5 | Illinois State Board Of Elections | $169,574,822 | 4% |
| 6 | Copa-19-Dept Of State | $166,623,567 | 4% |
| 7 | Secretary Of State Ohio | $151,045,792 | 3% |
| 8 | North Carolina State Board Of Elections | $144,275,583 | 3% |
| 9 | Michigan Department Of State | $140,915,908 | 3% |
| 10 | Secretary Of State Georgia | $128,507,272 | 3% |
10 of 57 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $31,570,916 |
| FY2025 | $13,490,014 |
| FY2024 | $61,280,067 |
| FY2023 | $177,959,079 |
| FY2022 | $55,627,113 |
| FY2021 | -$37,679,040 |
| FY2020 | $2,901,068,705 |
| FY2018 | $1,521,800,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 90.404?
Assistance Listing 90.404 is HAVA Election Security Grants, a federal grant program run by US Election Assistance Commission.
What is the CFDA number for HAVA Election Security Grants?
Its CFDA number is 90.404: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 90.404 awarded?
391 grant awards under 90.404 have obligated $4,725,116,828 in federal funds to 57 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 90.404?
The recipients obligated the most under HAVA Election Security Grants are California Secretary Of State ($395,234,864), Texas Secretary Of State ($262,614,868) and NYS Board Of Elections ($243,839,514).
How much did 90.404 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 90.404 obligated $13,490,014 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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