ST. PAUL – Rep. Dale Lueck urges election jurisdictions in District 10B to take advantage of new grants available to help update voting equipment.
Lueck said concern over aging, failing voting systems has been expressed throughout the state. Legislation was enacted earlier this year to provide $7 million in funding that will help defray costs for counties looking to upgrade. Grants of up to $5,000 per precinct may be made to purchase any combination of optical scan counters, assistive voting devices, or electronic rosters until the appropriation is exhausted.
“A good number of local units are using electronic election equipment that is nearing its expected lifespan,” Lueck said. “Minnesota must make sure we stay up to date with respect to our voting equipment in order to protect the integrity of our voting process. I am pleased we were able to establish this grant funding to aid local governments in this important endeavor.”
Key dates for those interested in applying for grants include:
- Dec. 15 – Applications must be received by the Office of the Secretary of State by 4 p.m.
- Jan. 31 – Grants will be awarded with across the board reductions if more requests are received than funds available.
- Feb-March – Grant contracts signed and returned, funds provided to jurisdictions.
- Feb. 2018-Aug. 2019 – Equipment purchased.
- Aug. 31, 2019 – Unused funds must be returned to OSS.
- Sept. 2019-Dec. 2019 – Possible second round of grants from unused/returned funds.
- June 30, 2020 – Unused second round funds must be returned to OSS.
More information is available by visiting www.sos.mn.gov and entering “equipment grants” in the search field, or by calling (651) 556-0642.
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