Rational and Pluralistic Models of Hava Implementation

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) has created a new dynamic for the oversight and implementation of elections, giving greater power to the states than previously. We consider how HAVA has changed the relationship between states and localities, especially through the HAVA planning process. We examine two approaches that states have used in HAVA planning—a rational approach and a pluralistic approach—and how these approaches can shape the power relationship between states and localities. We then present two case studies from Georgia and California to illustrate how these two approaches have functioned in practice.