REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 21, 2026
FROM
JOANI FINWALL, Registrar of Voters
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Revenue Agreement with the Secretary of State for award of Help America Vote Act Funds for Election Security Funding
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Revenue Agreement (State No. 25G27136) with the State of California Secretary of State, for activities to improve the administration of elections, including enhancing election technology and making election security improvements as authorized under sections 101, 103 and 104 of the Help America Vote Act, in an amount not to exceed $242,824.38, effective upon execution by both the State of California - Department for General Services and the County through December 31, 2026.
2. Authorize the Registrar of Voters or Assistant Registrar of Voters to execute non-substantive amendments, updates, or revisions and other necessary documentation required by the State of California to receive the grant funds, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Registrar of Voters to transmit non-substantive amendments in relation to Recommendation No. 2 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Joani Finwall, Registrar of Voters, 387-2100)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as all applicable grant expenses related to physical or cyber security will be reimbursed by the State of California (State). The State Revenue Agreement No. 25G27136 (Agreement) contains a maximum reimbursement amount of $242,824.38 to the County in connection with specified Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program expenditures through June 30, 2026. No match is required for this Agreement. The Registrar of Voters (ROV) will be reimbursed under this Agreement upon submittal of invoices to the State for applicable security-related expenses. Approval of the necessary budget adjustments to the ROV 2025-26 budget is not requested at this time but will be included in a future budget adjustment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On October 29, 2002, the United States Congress passed HAVA in response to the 2000 Presidential Election with the goal to improve voting systems, voter access and election administration across the United States. The state and federal governments authorized state and federal HAVA funding of $1.4 million to be used by counties for costs associated with election security. The Agreement will allow the ROV to be reimbursed for up to $242,824.38 in expenditures incurred during the grant period, effective upon execution by both the State and the County through December 31, 2026, in connection with HAVA Sections 101, 103, and 104 for activities to improve the administration of elections for Federal office, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements. The grant funding is intended to reimburse ROV for expenses incurred for:
• Cybersecurity: activities related to the improvement and enhancement of county cybersecurity.
• Physical Security: activities related to the improvement and enhancement of county physical security.
• Security and Privacy Awareness Training: creating awareness and educating employees and other users of information systems on the information security risks associated with the activities related to their job roles, as well as their responsibilities in complying with an organization’s security policies and procedures designed to reduce these risks. Training for staff that encompasses essential knowledge and skills that help maintain the security and integrity of elections.
• Incident Response: costs related to responding to an election security incident.
The counties’ allocations are intended to maximize funds to make advancements in election security.
PROCUREMENT
No Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Deputy County Counsel, 909-387-5455) on April 13, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst III, 387-4052) on March 25, 2026.