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Voting Accessibility

Making Elections More Accessible Through Poll Worker Training

As the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) continues our July focus on innovative programs for voters with disabilities and those with access needs, we caught up with Joseph Canciamilla, Clerk, Recorder and Registrar, Contra Costa County, California and his team about their specialized polling place training effort.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Commissioner Thomas Hicks

Language Access Summit: Trends in Election Administration and their Impact on Language Access

I am honored to moderate the fourth and final session of the day, “Trends in Election Administration and their Impact on Language Access,” which aims to take the discussion beyond the importance of Section 203 compliance towards expanded approaches to language assistance. Today, I am pleased to announce the panelists who will join me for this discussion.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Voting Accessibility

Partnering to Empower Voters with Disabilities

The El Paso County Elections Department collaborates with the local Independence Center for Southern Colorado to offer a universally accessible polling place for voters with and without access needs. A recipient of a 2017 EAC Clearie award for Improving Accessibility in Elections, the El Paso County initiative is an outstanding example of the power of people coming together to help voters with disabilities and poll workers.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Election Data Summit: Announcing Our Post-Election Panelists

Moderated by Kathy Boockvar, Senior Advisor to the Governor on Elections Modernization for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the summit’s final panel will focus on post-election processes and include discussion from four expert panelists.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Election Data Summit: Announcing Our Election Day Panelists

Following a panel on Election Day preparation, Chairman Thomas Hicks will be sitting down with four expert panelists to discuss how election officials and other stakeholders are using data to improve Election Day and voting processes.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Election Data Summit: Announcing Our Election Day Preparation Panelists

Following a panel on voter registration at the Election Data Summit, MIT Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science Charles Stewart III will moderate a discussion on how data can be used to expedite and improve Election Day preparation. This morning, the EAC is pleased to announce the three expert panelists who will join him on stage.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Election Data Summit: Announcing Our Voter Registration Panelists

The EAC will kick off the Election Data Summit with a panel exploring how voter registration data is used, collected and shared in light of recent trends towards modernizing voter registration systems and processes and increased sharing of registration data among states.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Sneak Peek: 2018 EAVS and Election Data Summit

The EAC is busy laying the groundwork for implementing the 2018 EAVS, the eighth biennial survey of its kind. We have started reaching out to our points of contact in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and the territories this week, and we’ll be launching the EAVS web portal later this month.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Voting Accessibility

Engaging Voters with Disabilities on Access and Independence

Last week, U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Chairman Thomas Hicks and Vice Chair Christy McCormick conducted a town hall discussion with voters with disabilities and advocates from across America during the annual conference of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Election Administration

Angelo Mino: 20 Years of Preserving and Celebrating Democracy

Election workers are vital to the administration of elections. However, their work and stories are largely overlooked. This month, the EAC is featuring the stories of several of these unsung heroes. For this latest edition, we spoke with Angelo H. Mino, who has served as an election worker in Johnson County, Kansas for 20 years.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Election Administration

From One Woman’s 55 Years of Service, Three Generations of Election Workers

Betty Clark has served as an election worker in the township for nearly 55 years. She has also inspired two daughters, two sons-in-law and one granddaughter to be election workers as well. Betty’s first election was in 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater were on the ballot.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Straight from the HR Desk

Celebrating EAC Staff Impact During Public Service Recognition Week

Since its inception, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has helped America vote by assisting the nation’s 8,000 election jurisdictions in carrying out successful elections and providing crucial resources for voters. Essential to this continued effort is the 24 men and women who make up EAC’s staff. While not large in numbers, EAC staff are big in their impact.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Commissioner Thomas Hicks

Recruiting the Next Generation of Civic Leaders

Despite the millions of Americans who serve as poll workers in each federal election, there remains a chronic shortage of election workers in the United States. In 2016, for example, nearly 65 percent of jurisdictions reported some level of difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of poll workers. As a result recruiting, training, managing and retaining election workers is constantly on the minds of election officials.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Election Administration

List Maintenance in the National Voter Registration Act

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), sometimes referred to as the “Motor Voter Act,” establishes certain voter registration requirements with respect to elections for federal office. Section 8, for example, contains provisions relevant to maintaining accurate voter registration lists and protections against inadvertently removing properly registered voters.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Election Administration

NASS Overview of Voter Registration

The EAC has highlighted various approaches and resources states provide on voter list maintenance during List Maintenance Month. This week, the EAC is sharing an in-depth report from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Originally released in 2009, NASS updated the “Maintenance of State Voter Registration Lists: A Review of Relevant Policies and Procedures” last December.
Friday, March 23, 2018
Women in Elections

Women in Elections: Meghan Kelly, Federal Voting Assistance Program

The EAC has launched a “Women in Elections” campaign to coincide with Women’s History Month. During the month of March, we will interview several women at the heart of elections at the federal, Secretary of State, state election director and county level. We are beginning the series with a conversation between EAC Vice Chair Christy McCormick and Meghan Kelly, State Legislative Affairs Specialist for the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Election Administration

Voter List Maintenance: News and Updates

In the coming weeks, the EAC will revisit some of the efforts made by election officials to keep voter rolls accurate, as well as highlight and update related research and news. Today, we focus on Virginia and its detailed information on how voter list maintenance is conducted.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Women in Elections

Celebrating Women in Elections

2018 has already been dubbed another ‘Year of the Woman’ with record numbers of women running for political office. Behind the scenes, women are also wielding more influence in the field of election administration.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Former Commissioner Matthew Masterson

A Coordinated Response to Protect American Elections

This week, leaders of the intelligence community testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding worldwide threats against the United States. As I have traveled the country and shared resources to improve the ability of election systems to prevent, detect and recover from attack, I have tried to end each session with some tangible take-home thoughts for election officials.
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Election Administration

More People Are Voting by Mail – Are Your Mailings Ready?

Voting by mail is becoming more prominent as more voters cast their ballot before Election Day. Recent data shows that as many as two in five ballots cast in federal elections are the result of absentee, mail or early voting.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Election Administration

Port Huron Township Models Best Practices with Simplified Poll Worker Training

In November of 2017, the EAC announced the winners of our annual national competition for best practices in election administration, also known as the “Clearies.” Leading up to the 2018 elections, we will be periodically highlighting both Clearie winners and entries that didn’t receive an award, but still provide good models for election officials. It is our hope these best practices will help election officials enhance their processes and prepare for future elections.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Commissioner Christy McCormick

Elections Happen Often, But There Are Always Improvements Officials Can Make

The cyclical nature of elections sometimes brings to mind the classic Bill Murray film, “Groundhog Day,” which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. It took Phil Connors multiple attempts to “get it right” when dealing with the unexpected, but election officials don’t have that same luxury of time.
Friday, February 2, 2018
Recount Ready

Sherrie Swensen, Clerk, Salt Lake County, Utah

We continue the “Recount Ready” series with Sherrie Swensen, Clerk, Salt Lake County, Utah, and member of the EAC’s Standards Board. Below Sherrie reflects on nearly three decades in election administration, sharing her and her office’s experiences with close elections, recounts and election contests.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Election Administration

Looking Back at the EAC Summit: The 2018 Federal Election

More than 175 election officials, voting rights activists, academics and others in the election community attended the EAC summit, which featured keynote speakers and expert on topics such as election security, voting accessibility, and how to use election data to improve the voter experience.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Recount Ready

Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters, Orange County, Calif.

We continue the “Recount Ready” series with Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters, Orange County, California, and member of both the EAC’s Board of Advisors and Standards Board. Below, Neal reflects on his and his office’s experiences with close elections, recounts and election contests.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Election Administration

Getting Ready for the EAC’s 2018 Federal Election Summit

The EAC will host an all-day summit highlighting a spectrum of issues that state and local election officials will face as they work to administer secure, accessible and efficient federal elections in the coming year. Expert speakers and panelists will discuss critical issues, such as election security, voting accessibility, and how to use election data to improve the voter experience.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Recount Ready

Lynn Bailey, Executive Director, Board of Elections, Richmond County, Ga.

We continue our series today with Lynn Bailey, Executive Director, Board of Elections, Richmond County, Georgia and member of the EAC Standards Board. Lynn reflects on more than three decades in election administration, including her and her office’s experiences with close elections, recounts and election contests.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Commissioner Thomas Hicks

Election Accessibility: Protecting Privacy and Improving Reliability

Ahead of the 2018 midterm election, improving access to voting while boosting election security and ensuring privacy for individuals who need special provisions at the polls is a critical issue for election administrators and voters.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Commissioner Christy McCormick

Contested Election in Virginia Shows the Power of Every Vote

A recent House of Delegates race in Virginia played out in the national spotlight due to its razor-thin margin, the back-and-forth results between candidates Shelly Simonds and David Yancey, and the political stakes associated with the ultimate winner. No matter which candidate ultimately is declared the next delegate to represent Virginia’s 94th district, the race has offered a powerful teaching moment about American elections and the impact of every single vote.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Former Commissioner Matthew Masterson

Election Security: Solutions and Opportunities

The increasing complex demands of securing elections and the resources available for officials will be the focus of the panel “Election Security: Solutions and Opportunities” during the upcoming EAC Summit: The 2018 Federal Election. This morning, the EAC announced the four expert panelists who will join Chairman Matt Masterson for that discussion
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Recount Ready

Gary Poser, Director of Elections, Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State

We continue the “Recount Ready” series and kick-off the new year today with Gary Poser, the Director of Elections in Minnesota’s Office of the Secretary of State. Gary serves on both the EAC Board of Advisors and the EAC Standards Board. Gary has nearly three decades of experience in election administration at the state and local levels in Minnesota, a state that is no stranger to high-profile close elections, recounts and election contests.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Commissioner Christy McCormick

Election Efficiency & Integrity: Improving the Voter Experience

With so much available data, figuring out how to analyze and use it can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Ways to use the EAVS and other election research to improve elections will be the focus of the panel “Election Efficiency & Integrity: Improving the Voter Experience” during next month’s EAC Summit: The 2018 Federal Election. This morning, the EAC announced the four expert panelists who join me for this discussion.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

EAC Releases New EAVS Data Interactive

This week, the EAC released our first-ever Data Interactive using survey responses to the 2016 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS). For the first time, election officials, academics, advocates, and other stakeholders can examine specific EAVS data not just at the state level, but at the local level as well.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Former Commissioner Matthew Masterson

Witnessing the First Statewide Risk-Limiting Audit

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and Arapahoe County allowed a few dozen people from across the nation to assist with the first statewide risk-limiting audit (RLA) in Colorado. EAC staff and leadership, including Chairman Matthew Masterson, Commissioner Hicks, Jerome Lovato and Ryan Macias, were among this crowd.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Voting Accessibility

Georgia’s Secretary of State: Front-line Leadership in Helping Veterans Vote

As the EAC wraps up our observance of National Veterans and Military Families Month, we spoke to Marine Corps Reserve Capt. Matt Mallalieu, Military Liaison for Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, about Secretary Kemp’s commitment to helping active duty service members and veterans across the Peach State.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Former Commissioner Matthew Masterson

Town Hall Meeting Connects Commissioners, Voters with Disabilities

Last week, Commissioner Christy McCormick and I, along with state and local election officials from Washington State, conducted a town hall discussion with voters with disabilities. The event took place at the 23rd annual conference of the Association of Programs for Rural and Independent Living (APRIL), in Spokane, Washington.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Commissioner Thomas Hicks

Cybersecurity: “Detect, Defend, and Recover” at Heart of EAC’s Work

This week, I had the opportunity to address members of Congress about the work the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is doing to help America vote. My remarks came just days before the 15th anniversary of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which was enacted on October 29, 2002. That legislation created the EAC and remains the steadfast compass for our commission’s work.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Data-Driven Conversations and the EAVS

Auburn University and the Election Center hosted the “Inclusion & Integrity in Election Administration Symposium,” a series of data-driven conversations focused on improving the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS). Panelists and those attending shared great insight and feedback about the EAVS and how the EAC could make the data more meaningful for election officials.
Friday, October 20, 2017
National Voter Registration Day

The Power of a Single Vote

In the political realm, unfortunately, our nation has become more and more divided. While close elections are not new, in recent years it seems more and more elections are divided by fewer and fewer votes. But like the townspeople who were divided over the fire truck, we CAN put aside political differences and be united. Along with our American will-help, can-do spirit, something that still unites us politically is that we believe in the power of the voting booth.
Monday, September 11, 2017
National Voter Registration Day

REGISTRATION->PARTICIPATION: Making Registration Accessible to All Americans

As National Voter Registration Day approaches on September 26, I would be remiss not to write a blog about the importance of registering to vote and making sure that all Americans are equally afforded that right. This is especially true for Americans with disabilities, men and women who are more likely to be turned away from registration because election workers are not properly trained on how to best serve this community.
Monday, September 4, 2017
Voting Accessibility

Crunching the Numbers to Help Voters with Disabilities and Election Officials

As the EAC wraps up our July series on the recognition of innovations in election accessibility, we caught up with Professors Lisa Schur and Douglas Kruse of Rutgers University. They recently issued a report entitled, “Disability and Turnout in the 2016 Election.” As in their past reports, the findings are invaluable additions of ways to improve the voting process for people with disabilities.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017