Secretary of State Donetta Davidson Awards HAVA Funds to Colorado Counties for Punch Card Replacement

Denver, June 7, 2005 - Secretary of State Donetta Davidson was given $2,177,090.00 in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding to distribute to five Colorado counties for the purpose of replacing outdated punch card voting equipment. Today Boulder, Jefferson, Mesa, and Pitkin counties received funding from Secretary of State Donetta Davidson. All five counties except Montrose have replaced their equipment. Currently, Montrose County is in the process of replacing their punch card machines. The Secretary of State's office has finalized funding agreements with Boulder, Jefferson, Mesa, and Pitkin counties. As soon as Montrose has replaced their equipment, the Secretary of State's office will complete a separate agreement with Montrose County.

In addition, the federal funds have been drawing interest and the interest has been distributed proportionately to each county. Each county receives $3,192.22 per qualifying precinct, plus interest earned through May 31, 2005. The amounts for each county are as follows:

• Boulder: $794,862.78 plus $52,494 (interest) = $847,356.78
• Jefferson: $1,027,894.84 plus $67,875 (interest) = $1,095,769.84
• Mesa: $226,647.62 plus $14,963 (interest) = $241,610.62
• Pitkin: $57,459.96 plus $3,780 (interest) = $61,239.96
• Montrose will receive $70,228.84 plus interest once they replace their equipment.

Secretary of State Donetta Davidson awarded the money to the counties during her presentation to the Colorado Association of County Clerk and Recorders in Durango, Colorado. Secretary Davidson is presenting election material to the state's county election officials at the conference.