[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 136 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11764-S11765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ELECTION ASSISTANCE FOR STATES IMPACTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, over the past several weeks, Congress has 
taken great efforts to address the disruption that Hurricane Katrina, 
followed by Hurricane Rita, have inflicted on the good people of our 
gulf coast region. While Congress is acutely aware of the need for 
funding for food, clothing, shelter and medical care for the evacuees 
and residents of this region, we are only now becoming aware of some of 
the longer term needs of these devastated communities.
  All of the States impacted by these hurricanes, including not just 
those directly hit by the storms but also the numerous States which 
have come to the aid of evacuees will be holding Federal elections in 
just a few short months. The displacement of nearly 1.5 million people 
raises a somewhat unique continuity of government issue for our 
democracy: how to ensure that the citizens of these States are able to 
participate in the upcoming Federal elections next year, as well as in 
numerous State and local elections between now and then. It is simply 
not acceptable that a loss of one's home may mean a loss of one's 
access to the ballot box. And yet, many of these States are facing 
unknown hurdles in ensuring that their displaced residents can vote in 
the next Federal election.
  The Rules Committee, under the very capable leadership of the 
Chairman, Senator Lott, has already begun meeting with the election 
officials of these affected States to determine what they will need to 
ensure that all eligible citizens will be able to participate in the 
2006 Federal elections, regardless of the condition of their community 
or the location of their evacuated citizens. Under the auspices of the 
U.S. Election Assistance Commission, efforts are underway to identify 
Federal resources and assistance that is already available to the 
States to replace voting systems, polling places, and to assist in 
facilitating absentee voting.
  However, at this point, many of these impacted States simply do not 
know the extent of the damage to election records or how to reach out 
to displaced citizens to ensure that they have access to absentee 
ballots or alternative polling facilities. While we are hopeful that 
the majority of the needs will be met through existing resources, I 
remain concerned that these States, and those who have stepped up to 
the plate to receive evacuees, will face additional expenses in 
ensuring the right to vote for the citizens of the gulf coast region.
  The Election Assistance Commission, EAC, is charged with serving as a 
national clearinghouse and resource of information and procedures with 
respect to the administration of Federal elections and with 
distributing over $3 billion in Federal funds to the States to 
implement the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, HAVA, 
of which I was honored to be the primary Senate author. I applaud the 
efforts of the EAC to spearhead the efforts to identify and respond to 
the needs of these States in administering our Federal elections next 
year. However, I remain concerned that without additional resources, 
these States will face significant hurdles to ensuring that all 
eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to vote and have their vote 
counted.
  While Congress has appropriated over $3 billion to date to implement 
the requirements of the Help America Vote Act, Congress has underfunded 
the authorization by over $800 million. At least one of the impacted 
States has already notified staff that they are short in funding to 
implement the HAVA requirements and face additional unmet need due to 
the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
  While I am hopeful that sufficient other Federal resources will be 
identified and made available to these States for conducting the 
Federal elections next year, it will not be acceptable if citizens of 
the Gulf Coast States are disenfranchised because their States and 
localities simply do not have the resources to replace destroyed voting 
systems, provide alternative polling places, print absentee ballots or 
reconstruct lost voting registration records.
  As the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee which has 
oversight jurisdiction over Federal elections, I intend to ensure that 
these States, and these citizens, are able to fully participate in the 
Federal election next year. Our distinguished Chairman, Senator Lott, 
whose State was in the path of both hurricanes, is keenly aware of this 
situation and I commend him for his leadership and attention to this 
issue. I know he shares my concern that as we learn the full extent of 
this problem, the Committee will act to ensure these communities and 
citizens can exercise their fundamental right to vote.
  Mr. LOTT. First of all, I want to thank my good friend the senior 
Senator from Connecticut and ranking member of the Rules Committee, 
which I chair, for participating in this important discussion about the 
election-related challenges that the Gulf Coast States face in the 
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. While the full extent of the damage to 
the election infrastructure cannot yet be precisely quantified, we know 
it was wide-ranging. For example, in my home county, Jackson County, 
MS, it appears that hundreds of voting booths and large amounts of 
voting equipment were destroyed as was the building that houses the 
county election commission. In neighboring Harrison County, we 
understand that all the polling places located near the coast were 
leveled. And in Hancock County, MS, all of the voting machines were 
destroyed and nearly every polling place was either completely 
flattened or otherwise rendered uninhabitable.
  We have heard similar reports from the state of Louisiana. According 
to state election officials, early estimates are that the State lost 
over 500 polling places and over 2,000 voting machines, with some 
parishes reporting that all of their voting equipment was destroyed. 
Thus, it is clear that a major commitment of resources will be needed 
to rebuild polling places and replace voting machines that were damaged 
or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
  But restoring damaged election infrastructure in the areas impacted 
by Hurricane Katrina is not the only election-related challenge to be 
surmounted. Hundreds of thousands of citizens in Louisiana and 
Mississippi had to be relocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina, in 
many instances to other States. Large numbers of these evacuees will 
not be able to return to their home communities in the immediate 
future. For these citizens, casting absentee ballots will be the 
primary, if not only, method by which they will able to be fully able 
to participate in upcoming elections that will affect the rebuilding 
efforts in their communities. Consequently, the demand for absentee 
ballots in the impacted areas will increase by many orders of magnitude 
during the coming months. We are already learning that additional 
workers may need to be hired to handle

[[Page S11765]]

the increased number of absentee ballot requests that are anticipated. 
So, as we can plainly see, election officials in jurisdictions impacted 
by Hurricane Katrina will face numerous logistical challenges as they 
prepare to conduct upcoming elections.
  We understand that FEMA, under its Public Assistance Program, is 
obligated to cover the expenses for replacing damaged voting equipment 
and restoring destroyed polling places in jurisdictions that have been 
designated Federal disaster areas. And for jurisdictions with upcoming 
elections but whose permanent polling places are currently 
uninhabitable, FEMA has a responsibility to pay the costs for setting 
up temporary polling places such as tents or trailers. The funding 
provided by FEMA, if it is disbursed in a timely manner, should go a 
long way towards restoring the election infrastructure in areas ravaged 
by Hurricane Katrina. It remains to be seen, however, whether such 
monies will be sufficient to bolster all aspects of the voting systems 
that were affected by the recent catastrophe.
  As Chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the 
administration of Federal elections in our country, I along with the 
ranking member, Senator Dodd, will continue to vigilantly monitor the 
situation in the states impacted by Hurricane Katrina to ensure they 
are receiving the resources they need to fully restore their election 
infrastructure to pre-Katrina levels. As more information becomes 
available, we will assess whether additional funds may need to be 
appropriated to assist the impacted jurisdictions in reconstituting 
their election systems. We will also make sure FEMA follows through on 
its commitments and responsibilities.
  In conclusion, the right to vote in the impacted regions of the Gulf 
Coast must not become a further casualty of Hurricane Katrina. We must 
work to ensure that it does not. Essential election infrastructure will 
need to be restored. And those who had to be evacuated as a result of 
Hurricane Katrina and who continue to be displaced from their homes 
must be afforded the full opportunity to participate in the democratic 
process in their home communities.
  I again want to thank my friend Senator Dodd for his leadership on 
the issue of election reform and look forward to continuing to work 
with him on this important matter.
  Mr. DODD. I thank our Chairman, and my good friend, and commend him 
for his leadership on this issue. I look forward to working with him to 
ensure that, no matter the devastation of this natural disaster, all 
eligible citizens will be able to continue to participate in this 
democracy through the ballot box.

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