Idaho Secretary of State
Election Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2004

Contact: Timothy A. Hurst
(208) 334-2852

Secretary of State Releases Revised Idaho Help America Vote Act State Plan

BOISE - - Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa today announced the release of the revised Idaho Help America Vote Act (HAVA) state plan. Idaho’s HAVA plan represents the work of a steering committee of state and county election officials, legislators and representatives of advocacy and interest groups.

The full text of the plan may be viewed online by clicking on the “Idaho HAVA Plan” link on the elections web site /.

“I sincerely believe that Idaho has an easy, understandable and accessible election process, but we can always improve,” said Ysursa. “Our state plan reflects our commitment to make Idaho’s election system the best in the country.”

HAVA was passed by Congress in October 2002 to make sweeping reforms to the nation’s elections process in order to address problems with voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 Presidential Election. HAVA requires state and local governments to:

• Create and maintain a single, uniform, centralized voter registration system.
• Provide information to voters on how to correct their ballots and request replacement ballots.
• Improve access, privacy and independence for voters with disabilities.
• Provide a formal procedure for complaints about state and county compliance with the Act.

It also provides for training of state and county elections officials and new identification requirements for first-time voters who register by mail.

Public comments are encouraged and welcomed.

Interested parties may submit comments about the plan through the Secretary of State’s web site / or by writing a letter to: Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720.