New from the EAC this month:
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The EAC launches New Website
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New Election Official Resources: College Poll Worker Guide, Comms 101, VVSG Migration Communications Toolkit
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2022 EAVS (Election Administration and Voting Survey) Now Available
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Congressional EAC Oversight Hearings Recaps
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Upcoming Events: LLC Annual Meeting (July 20 and 21) and the EAVS Data Summit (July 19)
EAC Launches New Website
If you have visited the EAC’s website (www.eac.gov) lately, you may have noticed it has a new look!
After listening to stakeholder feedback, the EAC has updated its website to improve your user experience. This includes making EAC resources easier to find and more accessible, especially ahead of the 2024 presidential election cycle. In addition to a better drop-down menu on the homepage, the website also has a more modern design. The agency also has a revamped homepage with key EAC statistics and a rotating feature highlighting the latest EAC news, reports, guides, and more.
Because the website is still new, if you notice something that may need our attention, please submit a contact form (Concerning: "Website feedback").
New EAC Resources for Election Officials
EAC Releases "Guidebook to Recruiting College Poll Workers”
The EAC has released the third edition of this guidebook, which will complement the agency’s upcoming Help America Vote College Poll Worker Grant Program. The guide serves as a collection of practices that have been successful in recruiting, training, and retaining college students as poll workers. It presents these practices in an easy-to-follow format so election officials can develop their own programs to fit their specific needs.
Election officials often have a wide range of responsibilities in addition to managing elections, such as communications or public relations manager. Although its application will differ among offices, the EAC created this booklet to help election offices successfully communicate with the public, and plan for challenges that may arise throughout their work. Stay tuned for the additional communications resources the EAC is developing to complement this guide.
Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) Migration Security Toolkit
The EAC is committed to supporting election officials’ needs with the migration of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 1.0 and 1.1, including communicating about it to the public.
The following resources are available on the EAC’s website and featured on the Election Technology landing page.
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Secure Elections Toolkit: These materials are intended to assist election officials when informing candidates, policymakers, media, stakeholders, and the public of the multi-layered approach used to secure elections. This includes how to share information about election security in their jurisdictions and components of the EAC Testing and Certification program. Download customizable social media graphics via Canva.com.
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EAC Testing and Certification Factsheet: This factsheet explains the purpose of the EAC’s national voluntary voting system certification program and what it means for voting systems to be certified by the EAC. This can be used as a reference or as a resource to share with external audiences about migration and the EAC’s Testing and Certification program.
The EAC and Election Security – New Video
How does the EAC contribute to the security of our elections and voting systems? This video gives an overview of the testing and certification of voting systems and efforts to ensure elections are accurate, secure, accessible, and transparent. It is designed to be used by election offices to supplement their communications about how they are working to secure elections and how the EAC supports their work. You may use this video on your social channels as well as on your website.
The 2022 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) Report is now Available
On June 29, the EAC released the EAVS (Election Administration and Voting Survey) report on the 2022 general election. The EAVS is the nation’s most comprehensive source of election administration data collected from election officials in the 50 states, U.S. territories, and District of Columbia.
The report provides data on voter registration, military and overseas voting, mail voting, early and Election Day polling place operations, voter participation, and election technology. These data are vital in helping election officials, policymakers, and other election stakeholders identify trends, anticipate and respond to changing voter needs, invest resources to improve election administration and the voter experience, and better secure U.S. elections infrastructure.
Previous EAVS reports can also be found on the EAC’s website. Other resources, such as state-specific summaries of election administration and voting data, will be available on the EAC’s website later this year.
Thank you to all the state and local election officials who took the time to fill it out. Your participation and contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Blog Post: EAC Commissioner Thomas Hicks Visits Brussels with Members of the European Parliament and Representatives from Ukraine
Image credit: International IDEA (photo by Bruno Maes)
In May, EAC Commissioner Thomas Hicks met with Members of the European Parliament, the leadership of the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine (CEC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and civil society and international organizations focusing on Ukraine and out-of-country voting.
Participants presented how their respective countries conduct overseas voting as models for further discussion for Ukrainian officials as they look towards the future and how to reach the millions of displaced Ukrainians.
Read about his experience in this new post on the EAC’s blog.
EAC Congressional Oversight Hearings Showcase Work of the Agency
Photo Credit: Becky Hammel, Senate Photo Studio
On June 7 and June 14, the EAC Commissioners provided testimony and answered questions from members of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Administration Committee. The following quotes are from the respective hearings, highlighting the EAC’s work to address today’s election administration challenges:
“The ever-evolving election environment shows no signs of abating. Social media continues to evolve, with new platforms and generative AI tools making voter education more challenging. In addition to administering elections and voter education, officials must still prepare for all cyber, physical, and personal security threats to the election process.”
--Chairwoman McCormick, House Administration Committee Testimony
“With the 2024 election cycle quickly approaching, election officials face an ever-growing list of responsibilities and challenges... The EAC is working diligently to help them prepare for the expected and unexpected in order to provide the best voting experience possible to every voter.”
-- Commissioner Hicks, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Testimony
You can watch the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration hearing here and the
House Administration Committee hearing here.
SAVE THE DATE
The Local Leadership Council (LLC) 2023 Annual Meeting will be held on July 20-21
The EAC’s Local Leadership Council (LLC) will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting on July 20-21 in Washington, DC. The public meeting will include discussions on topics such as training and workforce development, looking ahead to 2024, and making the Local Leadership Council an effective advisory board. Throughout the meeting, there will be opportunities for members to ask questions. Additionally, the Board will vote to elect members to executive officer positions.
Please note that this meeting will not be live streamed. If you are a member of the public and you are interested in attending, please register here. For more information, please visit the event page.
Attend the EAC Data Summit: How the U.S. Voted in the 2022 Midterms – July 19
The 2023 Data Summit will include a review of significant EAVS findings, and discussion on how the EAVS can be utilized by election officials, academics, and other stakeholders to improve elections.
The Data Summit will be held at noon ET on July 19 at the EAC offices and live streamed on the EAC’s YouTube page. To attend in person, please register here. Please visit the event page for more information.