# Help America Vote Act *United States federal law (2002) governing federal election administration* The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Pub. L. 107–252, is a United States federal law that requires states and localities to upgrade parts of their election procedures, including voting machines, registration processes and poll worker training.[^1] Christopher Dodd authored it. The House passed it 357–48 and the Senate 92–2, and President George W. Bush signed it on October 29, 2002.[^1] It was written at least in part in response to the dispute over the 2000 presidential election. Its stated goals are to replace punchcard and lever-based voting systems, to create the Election Assistance Commission to assist in administering federal elections, and to set minimum standards for election administration.[^1] The law leaves the specifics of implementation to each state, which permits differing readings of its requirements.[^1] In Minnesota, HAVA is one of the two federal statutes cited in *[[United States v. Simon]]*, No. 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn.), filed September 25, 2025.[^2] That action challenges Secretary of State [[Steve Simon]]'s refusal to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List under the [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]] and HAVA. The refusal is defended on state law, § 201.091. The case was ongoing as of June 18, 2026.[^2] ## Provisions ### State plan and reporting A state must file a plan to qualify for federal funding under the law.[^1] The plan covers how payments will be used and distributed, voter education, poll worker training, adoption of voting system guidelines, and performance measures with goals, timetables, responsibilities and criteria. It also covers administrative complaint procedures and identifies the committee that helped prepare the plan.[^1] In each year a state receives funds, it must report to the Election Assistance Commission. The report lists expenditures, gives the number and types of voting equipment bought with the funds, and analyzes the activities funded.[^1] ### Accessibility The law authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments to state and local governments. The payments are for making polling places accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the path of travel, entrances, exits and voting areas. They also fund informing voters about accessible polling places and training election officials and poll workers.[^1] Every polling location must have at least one voting system that individuals with disabilities can use. This includes nonvisual access for blind and visually impaired voters.[^1] ## Impact on voter registration methods HAVA required each state to set up a centralized, computerized statewide voter registration database.[^1] A 2024 report by the Center for Election Innovation & Research, as cited in the Wikipedia article, counted the states using at least one modern registration method: online, same-day or automatic registration. By that count, the number rose from seven in 2000 to 46 in 2024.[^1] ## Criticisms Critics have objected to the law's mandated changes in voting technology and its voter identification rules. They have also cited confusion and voter intimidation, misappropriation of federal funds, and added complexity in voter registration.[^1] Lloyd J. Leonard, legislative director of the [[League of Women Voters]] of the United States, questioned the bill. He said it could disenfranchise voters by purging them from the rolls and by imposing confusing new identification requirements.[^1] The American Civil Liberties Union objected to "highly complicated new identification requirements."[^1] It said that requiring a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number invaded privacy and could increase identity theft.[^1] In April 2007, a Pennsylvania court found that voting machine certification had rested on what Judge Rochelle Friedman called "deficient examination criteria."[^1] The court held that voters have a right under the commonwealth's constitution to reliable and secure voting systems. By the 2020 primary election, all 67 Pennsylvania counties used voting systems that produce voter-verifiable paper records.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The defendant is Secretary of State [[Steve Simon]], and the case is captioned *[[United States v. Simon]]*.[^2] - Judge [[Katherine M. Menendez]] and Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard are assigned to the case.[^2] - The [[League of Women Voters]] and [[Common Cause]] moved to intervene.[^2] ### What - The action challenges the Secretary's refusal to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List. It is brought under the [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]] and the Help America Vote Act. The refusal is defended on state law, § 201.091.[^2] ### When - The case was filed on September 25, 2025, as No. 0:25-cv-03761. It was ongoing as of June 18, 2026.[^2] ### Where - The case is before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Help America Vote Act* (revision 1379015542, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Pub. L. 107–252, authorship, vote counts, signing date, goals, state plan and reporting, accessibility, registration databases and criticisms, as reported in the article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_America_Vote_Act [^2]: *The Instrument No One Will Name* (densified, validated 2026-06-18) — record of *United States v. Simon*, 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn., filed Sep. 25, 2025): challenge under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and HAVA to the refusal to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List; state-law defense (§ 201.091); assigned judges; intervention motions; status ongoing as of 2026-06-18. Validated pack passage; no allowed URL in the pack.