HAVA.htm

HAVA Program Description

Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

The 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) designated that protection and advocacy systems throughout the country have a role in the enforcement of the Act’s provisions. This means that the HAVA Program of the Georgia Advocacy Office can respond to instances of voter rights violations based on disabilities, and also educate people with disabilities about their right to vote.

We would like to hear your opinion on how we are doing this work.

Click here if you would like to fill out a satisfaction survey about a particular situation that you have spoken to us about.

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Below is a description of our planned emphasis for 2008 - 2009. Please email (to info@thegao.org) or mail (to 150 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 430, Decatur, GA 30030) your comments, suggestions, or questions. We welcome your comments on our work throughout the year.

The first priority of the HAVA program is to respond to complaints from Georgia citizens with disabilities related to access to voting or exercing the right to vote. We advocate for citizens with complaints of election-day voting irregularities or discrimination related to disability. We also advocate for citizens with complaints of polling place inaccessibility or issues of voter registration related to disability.

a) GAO will staff a hotline on election-days to field complaints related to access to voting or exercising the right to vote.

b) GAO will advocate on behalf of voters with disabilities with government for the efficient and timely handling of complaints related to registering to vote, access to voting, and exercising the right to vote.

The second priority of the HAVA Program is to remove physical, legal, and social barriers and provide the means to vote for people with disabilities traditionally prevented from exercising their right to vote. We identify persons with disabilities who are confined to institutions and nursing homes and make it possible for them to participate fully in the voting process.

a) GAO will educate and inform at least 1000 individuals with disabilities residing at State Hospitals, at nursing homes, and at other congregate settings about their right to vote and provide them with the opportunity to register to vote in time for the 2006 elections.

b) GAO will work with state and local voting officials, other advocacy organizations, and citizens throughout the state to identify and remove architectural barriers to voting.

The third priority of the HAVA Program is training and outreach to individuals with disabilities to disseminate information about rights under HAVA.

a) GAO will educate and inform government officials, other advocates, and citizens about voting laws and policies that discriminate against voters with disabilities.

b) GAO will educate and inform individuals with disabilities about changes in state law regarding voter eligibility requirements, and assist individuals with disabilities to become eligible voters.

c) GAO will educate and inform state and local voting officials, other advocacy organizations, and citizens about the retention of the right to vote in competency proceedings and upon a finding of incompetence.