2009 Help America Vote Act Mock Election Program

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) announces the availability of $300,000 in grant funds for the first year of a two-year award to organize and administer mock elections for High School students.

EAC will fund proposals that launch new mock election initiatives or substantively build upon existing mock election programs. The purpose of the program is to allow students to become more familiar with voting processes and technologies so that when they become eligible to vote they will be more comfortable with their civic duties. EAC is particularly interested in funding opportunities that promote the use of voting machines through partnerships with local election officials.

Project funds must be used for tasks and activities that are carried out without partisan bias and without promoting any particular political point of view regarding any election issue or candidate.

The $300,000 will be available to between approximately 4 and 10 organizations.
Proposals should include a two-year project plan and budget which proposes holding mock elections for both the 2009 and 2010 election cycles. Applicants may propose planning and scaled-down activities for the 2009 election cycle in preparation for larger initiatives for the 2010 election that will be supported using money from the first year of the grant.

Additional funding to expand 2010 activities in the second year of the grant will be provided subject to availability of appropriated funds in FY 2010 and substantial progress towards approved performance measures.

This assistance is being offered by the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 111-8), which provides funds for EAC to award competitive grants for operating a program of simulated elections for students in secondary education programs.

These grants will be administered under the Office of Management and Budget uniform administrative requirements and cost principles applicable to the organization that receives the assistance.

Go to http://www.eac.gov/program-areas/grants/current-grant-opportunities for more information.