HAVA and the States

Two major events—the 2000 vote counting crisis in Florida and passage of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in October 2002—spawned a wave of federal, state, and local policy innovation and policy implementation. The major effect of the Florida crisis was a nationwide effort to analyze information on elections and to debate policy solutions. Subsequently, HAVA, the first major election law in U.S. history that includes federal funds for election equipment and operations, had a more substantial effect on policy innovation and implementation. Both before and after HAVA, election law changes have been affected by partisan considerations, policy analyses, and entrepreneurial leadership. Thus far, HAVA has positively affected election administration, though administrative practices and their effectiveness vary across and within the states.