The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact American civic life, especially the administration of safe elections. And with the November 2020 general election nearly behind us, CTCL is focusing philanthropic support to directly help Georgia election offices lead a safe and secure runoff election in January 2021.

This means CTCL COVID-19 Response grant funds continue to be available to all Georgia counties. Every eligible Georgia election department that is verified as legitimate will be approved for a grant. The minimum CTCL COVID-19 Response grant amount award is $5,000 (unless a county submits a request for a lower dollar amount.)

Georgia election offices may use grant funds for costs associated with January runoff:

• Election equipment and supplies
• Personnel
• Voting locations
• Voter education

The application deadline is Tuesday, December 15th.

From submitting materials to receiving funds, Georgia counties can expect the process to take about 2 weeks.

Georgia counties that have previously applied for a CTCL grant

If your Georgia election office has already applied for a CTCL COVID-19 Response grant, welcome back. You need to take new actions in order to receive additional grant funds.

1. Complete a Safe Voting Plan (SVP). This should take you no longer than 1 hour. Download the SVP template, docx, 36kb.
2. Email the SVP to [email protected].
3. After submitting your SVP, you’ll receive an updated grant agreement via email.
4. Funds will be disbursed using the method you selected in your earlier application.
5. Your grant report will be due July 31, 2021.

Georgia counties that are applying for a CTCL grant for the first time

If this is the first time you’re applying for a CTCL COVID-19 Response grant, welcome to the program. You need to submit a Safe Voting Plan and an application. In total, completing the materials will take you about 90 minutes.

1. Complete a Safe Voting Plan (SVP). This should take you no longer than 1 hour. Download the SVP template, docx, 36kb.
2. After you complete your SVP, attach it to your grant application. Completing the application should take you about 30 minutes. To speed up your application process, collect the following beforehand:
   • Safe Voting Plan
   • Number of active registered voters in your county as of September 1, 2020
   • Number of full-time staff (or equivalent) on the election team as of September 1, 2020
   • Election office 2020 budget as of September 1, 2020
     Election office W-9
   • Local government body who needs to approve the grant funding (if any)
   • What government official or government agency the grant agreement should be addressed to
3. After submitting your application and SVP, you’ll be verified by the CTCL team.
4. Once you’re verified, you’ll receive a grant agreement via email. Be sure to add [email protected] to your email contacts so initial grant correspondence makes it to your inbox.
5. You need to sign and return the grant agreement.
6. Next, you’ll be asked for disbursement information. The disbursement process takes 2-3 days.
7. Finally, your grant report will be due July 31, 2021.

Questions about the CTCL COVID-19 Response Grant application process, timeline, eligible expenses, or reporting? Please email us at [email protected].