Public Hearing: U.S. Election Assistance Commission: Lessons Learned from the 2020 Primary Elections

Start Time
Wednesday, July 08, 2020 1:30 PM

End Time
Wednesday, July 08, 2020 3:30 PM

Virtual via Zoom.

The hearing was open to the public and was be livestreamed on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpN6i0g2rlF4ITWhwvBwwZw.

Purpose:

In accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act), Public Law 94-409, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552b), the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) conducted a virtual hearing to address the lessons learned by state and local election officials during the 2020 elections in preparation for the remaining primaries and general election.

Agenda

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Commissioners oversaw a virtual hearing including testimony from state and local election officials. Panelists discussed the challenges they faced during the 2020 primary elections, how they met those challenges, and how they plan to manage the general elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics included poll worker recruitment and training; absentee and mail voting management; in-person voting location management; and result recording, accuracy and setting expectations. The agenda included remarks from panel participants and a question and answer portion from the Commissioners.

Background

The EAC hosted a hearing “Election Response to COVID-19: Administering Elections During the Coronavirus Crisis” on April 20, 2020. EAC Commissioners heard panelists present on major considerations for expanding vote by mail options for the remaining primaries and the general election and considerations for in-person voting. Panelists included state and local election officials and other representatives from the elections administration field. Other considerations such as accessibility for voters with disabilities and ensuring secure elections were also discussed. The hearing on July 8 will build off the information shared during that hearing, and the COVID-19 resources for election officials the EAC has compiled as part of their clearinghouse function at eac.gov.