Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA)


Who Gets to Vote in North Carolina?

A federal law passed in 2002 — the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) — is having a big impact on every part of the voting process in North Carolina.

It is full of guidelines about:

  • New voting machines, including machines for disabled voters.

  • New identification requirements to register to vote.

  • New rules for using provisional ballots.

  • New opportunities to help ex-felons and others vote.

  • New ways to involve youth in the voting process.


The North Carolina legislature and State Board of Elections have taken action to turn those guidelines into new laws and new rules that
are affecting how voter participation takes place.


There is also federal money to help states expand voter registration and access to polls. Money must be used to buy new machines (at least one per
precinct by 2006) that are accessible for a person who is blind or has another disability. Money could even be used to begin "same day" registration in
North Carolina. Imagine having a system where people who missed the registration cutoff could show up on the Saturday before Tuesday's election,
or even on Election Day, to register and vote, all at once. This is called same-day registration, and a campaign is underway to gain that reform for
North Carolina.

 


The links below will connect you to more background from some national groups working on HAVA:

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