The Mills County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a resolution allowing county staff to accept a Help America Vote Act grant from the Secretary of State that staff said is worth $32,500 and carries a 20% local match requirement.

The grant would fund election-security items and related needs, county election staff told commissioners. Election staff described potential uses including software updates, replacement computers and power backups, additional batteries and power cords for voting machines, improved secure storage for records, and training space and programs for poll workers.

“it says we’re eligible for $32,500,” one county election staff member said during the meeting, adding the grant must be spent within one year. The staff member said the grant requires a 20% match. The staff member also said some county election accounts and “Chapter 19” funds could be used to meet the match and cover associated costs.

County staff described other needs the grant could address: upgrading out-of-date voting software, buying replacement laptops, adding backups and batteries, improving locked storage for paper records, and creating a larger training facility to train new poll workers. The staff member warned pending changes in election laws under consideration would increase training and staffing demands, saying some trainings “are going to require us to basically go for 14 days straight, Saturdays and Sundays,” which would affect staff hours and overtime costs.

At the meeting the staff member said the application was already open and largely complete. “If y’all sign that resolution, it’s going today,” the staff member said, indicating staff would submit the grant application once the resolution was approved.

Commissioner Head moved to approve the HAVA grant resolution; Commissioner Williams seconded. The board voted 4-0 in favor with Commissioner James Hart recorded as not present. A subsequent motion to adjourn also passed.

The county did not specify precise current balances for the accounts mentioned during the meeting; the staff member gave approximate figures verbally for several funds. The grant program and any spending would remain subject to the grant’s terms and the county’s budgeting and procurement rules.