COVID-19 Response Rural Grant Program

COVID-19 Response Rural Grant Program

Funder: Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL)

Program Status: Announced August 2020 (historical)

Geographic Scope: Rural jurisdictions across the United States

Eligible Applicants: Local election offices in qualifying rural jurisdictions (county or municipal level)

Definition of Rural: CTCL follows the "Metro vs Nonmetro" classification system as outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Nonmetro counties include:

Open countryside

Rural towns (fewer than 2,500 people)

Urban areas ranging from 2,500 to 49,000 that are not part of larger metro areas

Background: Extension of CTCL's history of work with rural jurisdictions. Recognizes that smaller, rural jurisdictions are often overlooked in national election landscape but remain crucial to democracy. Rural jurisdictions face funding shortages that hit harder due to limited budgets.

Funding Priorities

Rural jurisdictions falling into one of two categories receive priority:

1. Jurisdictions required to provide language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act with higher percentage of historically disenfranchised residents
2. Jurisdictions in states that recently changed absentee voting laws or rules in response to COVID-19

Eligible Uses

Funds support four main purposes:

1. Ensure Safe, Efficient Election Day Administration
- Maintain open polling places for in-person voting
- Procure PPE and personal disinfectant
- Support and expand drive-thru voting (signage, tents, traffic control, walkie-talkies, safety measures)

2. Expand Voter Education & Outreach Efforts
- Publish reminders for voter registration verification
- Educate voters on safe voting policies and procedures

3. Launch Poll Worker Recruitment, Training & Safety Efforts
- Recruit and hire sufficient poll workers and inspectors
- Utilize hazard pay where required
- Compensate for increased site cleaning and sanitization
- Provide updated training for current and new poll workers

4. Support Early In-Person Voting and Vote by Mail
- Expand or maintain in-person early voting sites
- Deploy additional staff and/or technology improvements for absentee ballot processing

Contact Information

For more information: https://www.techandciviclife.org/grants