May 2023 EAC Monthly Updates and Events

Highlights from this month’s newsletter include:  

• New EAC Resources for Election Officials!  

• Supporting Military and UOCAVA Voter Public Meeting Recap 

• Commissioner Palmer Testimony on Promoting Voter Confidence 

• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Webinar Series 

NEW EAC RESOURCES ALERT! 

How to Work with State Legislators: A Guide for Local Election Officials 

Local election officials are each state’s election experts, and their perspectives can be instrumental in crafting effective, administrable election legislation. This brief guide, from the EAC and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), outlines five key principles to empower local election officials to embrace an educational mindset and engage with legislators and the legislative process. 

Alternative Voting Methods in the United States 

This new EAC resource provides information on the use of alternative voting methods across the country, including the different methods that are currently being considered or used, the ways that alternative voting methods may be adopted, special uses for alternative voting methods, administrative considerations, and case studies of jurisdictions that have conducted elections using alternative voting methods.   

What You Need to Know About Census Data 

Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau conducts a survey of the entire American population, gathering the total number of residents and detailed information about a representative sample. By doing this, the United States Census offers a wealth of data on the demographics of our country. This also includes data on election behaviors and data that is used in election processes. In this blog, the EAC takes a closer look at what the census is, its purpose, and how it impacts American elections.  

EAC Holds Public Meeting on Serving Military Voters  

(Panel participants Acting Director J. Scott Wiedmann, Charles Martin, Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, Supervisor Paul Lux, and Casandra Hockenberry) 

On April 26, the EAC held an in-person public meeting on serving Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) voters. Military and overseas citizen voters often need special support, and extra time for planning to make certain they can participate in the voting process to account for the obstacles and complexities of voting abroad.   

In the first panel, the EAC Commissioners heard from J. Scott Wiedmann, Acting Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), and Charles A. Martin, Program Analyst in the Military Postal Service Agency. They discussed how their federal organizations serve UOCAVA voters, how they work with voters and election officials, and the systems in place for the upcoming 2024 elections.  

In the second panel, “Best Practices for Election Offices,” the Commissioners heard from Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections; Paul Lux, Supervisor of Elections in Okaloosa County; and Casandra Hockenberry, Program Manager of the Council of State Governments (CSG). Panelists discussed the UOCAVA demographics of their jurisdictions, the challenges they have faced in serving UOCAVA voters, and how they have overcome those challenges to improve the registration, and ballot request and return processes. Ms. Hockenberry spoke about CSG’s Overseas Voting Initiative and what they have learned working with a coalition of election officials, as well as the research being done to inform election officials on this topic. 

The meeting included a presentation on new EAC resources on serving UOCAVA voters from Ben Jackson, a Senior Election Subject Matter Expert at the EAC. These resources include: 

• a Pocket Guide for Serving Military and Overseas Voters,  

• a fact sheet for election officials on UOCAVA and federal resources, their responsibilities as election officials, general considerations for residency, and information on federally prescribed forms, and 

• An interactive map showing how state policies differ for residency requirements, FPCA electronic return availability, ability to use the FWAB to register to vote, and availability of electronic ballot return. This map can be found at eac.gov/uocava. 

If you missed it, the live stream recording of the public meeting is available on the EAC’s YouTube channel. 

Thank You, Standards Board and Board of Advisors Members 

The EAC’s Standards Board and Board of Advisors both held their annual meetings in April. At the meetings, the board members discussed the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.0, the EAC’s new Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP), updates on existing and new EAC programs,  and election official security. The agendas are available at eac.gov/events, and transcripts will be available soon. 

The EAC would like to thank all the members for their valuable feedback, as well as the many panelists for their presentations on important topics for the EAC and the election community.  

The EAC’s Local Leadership Council will be holding its annual meeting in July in Washington DC. Updates will be including at eac.gov/events and in the EAC’s monthly newsletter. 

(The EAC Commissioners with Phil the Ballot, the Maricopa County Elections mascot) 

(Standards Board members at their 2023 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona) 

(Board of Advisors members at their 2023 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC) 

The EAC Testifies to the Committee on House Admin on Building Voter Confidence 

On April 27, Commissioner Donald Palmer testified before the Committee on House Administration hearing on “American Confidence in Elections: State Tools to Promote Voter Confidence.” He spoke about how the EAC raises awareness of election procedures and security measures, as well as assists state and local election officials as they serve voters.  

“Insight from election officials and practitioners of election administration will inform impactful election reform legislation as the EAC seeks to bolster America’s confidence in our national elections.” 

Read the full testimony here.  

NCSL Spring Webinar Series 

The EAC Commissioners are participating in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) webinar series, “How U.S. Elections Are Run.” 

Commissioner Thomas Hicks participated in “Paying for Elections,” which covered the cost of running elections, sources of election funding, how states can spend money appropriated by Congress such as the HAVA election security grants, and the need for additional funding. Watch the full discussion here. 

Vice Chair Benjamin Hovland participated in “Voter Registration and Maintaining Voter Registration Lists,” which addressed how states maintain accurate voter rolls, and why regular list maintenance processes, along with providing opportunities for voters to update and maintain their registration in accordance with federal and state laws, are important. Watch it here. 

Chairwoman Christy McCormick will participate in “Ensuring Accuracy: Post-Election Audits” on May 12 at 3:30 ET. This will cover the different types of post-election tabulation audits that states use (traditional, tiered and risk-limiting) and the value of having such audit laws on the books. Get more information here.  

Commissioner Donald Palmer will participate in “Voting Technology, Certification and Standards” on June 6 at 3 p.m. ET. This will cover what the VVSG 2.0 is, why it’s important and what options legislators can consider for keeping their state’s voting technology as secure and accurate as possible. Get more information here.