AUGUST 20, 2004

Today Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced that Michigan has just received a $28 million installment in federal funds to continue the state's election reform efforts. The payment signals federal approval of Michigan's plan to meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).

"I am pleased the U. S. Election Assistance Commission has approved of our plan to upgrade Michigan's elections process and authorized this release of HAVA funding," said Land. "This is a multi-year process. Prior to the 2004 August Primary election, nearly 200 of our cities and townships replaced their outmoded voting equipment. With these additional federal funds, we now have the ability to upgrade our voting systems for the rest of the state in 2005 and 2006."

A significant element of Michigan's State Plan was the adoption of a uniform statewide voting system using optical scan and "precinct-based" tabulation technology. Optical scan technology was chosen as the state's voting system standard because it provides voters with a ballot that can be reviewed before it is cast, allows for consistency between absentee ballots and ballots issued at the polls, eases the recount process by producing a tangible document created by the voter and allows for faster compilation and reporting of election results. Michigan's choice of optical scan sidestepped the subsequent controversies centered on other voting systems. The funds will allow Michigan to move forward with the selection of equipment that meets the needs of the disabled community. Per federal law, this equipment must be in place by 2006.

"These funds are critical to fulfilling the requirements of HAVA, namely ensuring the integrity of our elections process, increasing privacy and independence for voters with disabilities, and providing access for military voters stationed overseas," Land said. "Michigan is fortunate it will be able to build upon its record of election excellence given the tight budget situation."

President Bush signed HAVA into law on October 29, 2002. It is without question the most sweeping federal reform measure in decades. The law requires that state and local governments implement uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and procedures for conducting Federal elections. HAVA places new requirements on the states to assure access to voting for those with disabilities and authorizes a total of $3.4 billion in federal funds over three years to help states meet the federal requirements.