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LEWISTOWN -- Mifflin County's election process received a financial boost as county commissioners recently approved the ratification of an application for the Election Integrity Grant of $133,672.78. This grant supports various aspects of election administration and maintenance throughout the year.
Paula Hoffman, Mifflin County Director of Elections, explained how the grant funds will be utilized.
"This election integrity grant covers our ballots, the programming of our ballots, and all the maintenance we do all year long on keeping the voter registration up to date," she said.
The grant's scope extends beyond immediate election needs, encompassing ongoing tasks to ensure accurate voter information. Hoffman highlighted the process of sending out Address Verification Notices (AVNs) as a key component. These notices serve as a safeguard when discrepancies arise in voter information.
"Say someone changed their driver's license, but we didn't get the notification. Our source system finds that, and then we have to send out notifications," Hoffman said. This process requires voters to respond and confirm changes, letting the county maintain current records.
The grant also supports the issuance of identification cards, a necessary step when voters change their addresses. This ongoing maintenance helps keep the county's voter rolls accurate and up-to-date.
While Hoffman didn't specify all potential uses for the funds, similar grants in other counties have been used for a variety of purposes. These include upgrading voting equipment, enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect voter data, recruiting and training poll workers, and improving accessibility at polling places.
Some counties use such funds to bolster their mail-in voting infrastructure, purchasing equipment for sorting and counting mail-in ballots. Others invest in election management software upgrades, improving systems for voter registration and results reporting.
Hoffman emphasized the grant's role in maintaining election integrity. "It's also to keep the integrity of our elections," she stated. One specific aspect involves processing death notices. The Department of Health sends monthly reports of deceased individuals, enabling the county to update its voter rolls. "The death notices get [processed], the Department of Health sends out every month who passed away that month, and they get canceled here in Mifflin County," Hoffman explained.
The Election Integrity Grant is a recurring source of funding for Mifflin County. Hoffman confirmed the county has received this grant for at least the past three years, coinciding with her tenure as Director of Elections. However, she was uncertain about its history before her appointment.
This funding mechanism extends beyond Mifflin County. When asked if other counties receive similar grants, Hoffman confirmed, "Yes," indicating a broader statewide initiative to support election processes across Pennsylvania.
By funding these various aspects of election administration, the grant helps ensure Mifflin County can maintain accurate voter rolls, give up-to-date information to voters, and conduct elections efficiently. The continuous nature of these tasks underscores the year-round effort required to maintain election integrity, extending far beyond Election Day itself.
The grants support for sending out Address Verification Notices and updating voter information based on responses illustrates the proactive measures taken to maintain accurate voter rolls. This process helps identify and correct discrepancies in voter information, enhancing the overall accuracy of the county's electoral system.
Similarly, the funding for processing death notices from the Department of Health represents an essential safeguard against potential voter fraud. By promptly removing deceased individuals from the voter rolls, the county reduces the risk of improper voting and maintains the integrity of its electoral process.
While the grant supports Mifflin County's election processes, it's worth noting the specific amount – $133,672.78 – in context. This figure reflects the particular needs and size of Mifflin County and may vary for other counties across Pennsylvania based on their population and specific election requirements.
As election administration continues to evolve, with changing technologies and increasing focus on security and accuracy, grants like these help counties adapt and improve their processes. The wide-ranging uses of the grant funds reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of modern election administration.