Application for Election Expense Funding Related to COVID-19
for the November 3, 2020 General Election
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress allocated $6,473,612.00 to the State of Alabama for it to prepare for and respond to election activities related to the July 14 Primary Runoff Election and the November 3 General Election. The Secretary of State’s Office matched this funding by 20% ($1,294,722.00). The total funding available to Alabama was $7,768,334.00. On April 28, 2020 the Secretary of State’s Office was notified of an additional $25,062.00 in funding being offered requiring $5,012.00 match dollars. Alabama has accepted this additional allotment to increase the allocated amount to $6,498,674.00 and the match amount to $1,299,734.00 for a total of $7,798,408.00.
For the July 14, 2020, Primary Runoff Election, the Secretary of State’s Office reimbursed Alabama’s counties $2,219,420.57 of the total $7,798,408.00 in funding, leaving a remaining balance of $5,578,987.43.
For the November 3, 2020, General Election, this remaining $5,578,978.43 in funding will be available to reimburse county commissions, by and through the Secretary of State’s Office, for various election expenses. These expenses include, but are not limited to, certain Absentee Election Manager (AEM) support as referenced below, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, disinfectant spray, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and professional cleaning services to prepare and return polling places back to a safe and sanitary condition. Any item purchased as personal protective equipment or used to sanitize and disinfect must be approved for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Environmental Protection Agency or another governmental authority. Any service used (cleaning service or other) must be by a reputable company. There may be other requests for funding that may be eligible. However, a county is encouraged to make reasonable requests for funding.
The County Commission shall coordinate and submit the Application for reimbursement of any eligible county elections expenses. Therefore, all county election officials must coordinate their needs through their County Commission for them to submit the request to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The application for reimbursement should include cleaning supplies, cleaning services, PPE, one extra DS200 voting tabulator for the AEM’s Office to efficiently handle an anticipated increase in absentee ballots (if requested by the county), up to two temporary staff to assist the AEM at $75.00 each day worked per temporary staff member and only for the period of September 9, 2020 to November 10, 2020 (if requested by the county), and an additional $50.00 supplemental pay for duly appointed poll workers who work on election day. Receipts or quotes must be attached for cleaning supplies, cleaning services, and PPE. Reimbursement covering the additional voting tabulator will require an invoice. Reimbursement covering temporary staff for the AEM will need to have supporting documentation (such as engagement letter or contract with the temporary staff member). Reimbursement for the supplemental pay for poll workers will require a list of all of the county’s poll workers. AEMs and their temporary staff or other staff are not eligible for the supplemental pay. Any items claimed for reimbursement from the Secretary of State’s Office must not be included on the county’s post-election reimbursement form submitted to the State Comptroller’s Office.
For expenses related to the November 3, 2020, General Election, the deadline for a County Commission to submit an Application is October 2, 2020.
The completed application shall be submitted to Jesse Battles, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, at jesse.battles@sos.alabama.gov . For questions or concerns, he can also be reached at (334) 242-4133.
Please click the following link for the Application:
2020 CARES Act Funds Application (PDF)
Please click the following link for a PowerPoint Presentation regarding the Application process:
2020 CARES Act Funds Power Point
All parts of the application must be completed in order to be considered for funding by the Secretary of State’s Office.
For complete transparency, the Secretary of State’s Office will be reporting to the United States Election Assistance Commission how the funding was allocated and expended in Alabama.