County Election Expenses (CARES Act) Final Reimbursement Information for the 2020 Election Cycle

On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act included $400 million in new Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Emergency funds made available to states through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC allocated $6,473,612 to the State of Alabama for it to prevent, prepare and respond to election activities related to the July 14 Primary Runoff Election and the November 3 General Election. The State of Alabama was required to match this funding by 20% ($1,294,722). With the $6,473,612 allotment from EAC and the $1,294,722 match from the Alabama Secretary of State's Office the total funding available to Alabama is $7,768,334. On April 28, 2020 the Alabama Secretary of State's Office was notified of an additional $25,062 in funding which required a match of $5,012. Alabama accepted this additional allotment to increase the final allocated amount to $6,498,674 and the match amount to $1,299,734, for a total of $7,798,408.

Of the total amount of available funding, the Secretary of State's Office reimbursed Alabama's counties $2,219,420.57 for approved election expenses related to the July 14 Primary Runoff Election and $2,572,738.89 for approved election expenses related to the November 3 General Election, leaving a remaining balance of $3,006,248.54.

Secretary of State John H. Merrill values transparency with the allocation of these funds to Alabama's counties. This page has been created to continue this transparency. Listed below are all 67 counties, the amount requested by the respective county commission, the amount awarded by the Secretary of State, the application submitted, and the award letter related to the final disbursement for election expenses related to the July 14 Primary Runoff Election and the November 3 General Election.