Silver Spring, Md. – U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Chairman Thomas Hicks and Vice Chair Christy McCormick today issued a joint statement to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Twenty-eight years ago, the ADA was the first piece of legislation to protect people with disabilities against discrimination and ensure their right to participate in all aspects of public life. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) further strengthened these protections by advancing the rights of all voters, including those with disabilities.
“As the EAC’s founding document, HAVA also charged the Commission with helping election officials administer accurate, accessible and secure elections that provide the opportunity for all voters to vote privately and independently. Since our founding, the EAC has committed to this principle by providing resources, promoting best practices, educating voters with disabilities about their rights, testing and certifying voting systems to ensure they are accessible to all and advocating for systems and practices that expand access and increase security.
“Much of the public discourse around elections since the 2016 Federal election has focused on security – and for good reason. However, increased protections cannot come at the expense of limiting accessibility for voters with disabilities. As we look ahead to the coming year, including the 2018 Federal election, the EAC is committed to ensuring voting systems remain secure while allowing for the highest possible participation for voters with disabilities.
“There is still much work to do to fully implement and realize the protections of both the ADA and HAVA. On this anniversary, the EAC celebrates and recognizes the progress that has been made and recommits ourselves to the effort of ensuring elections are both accessible and secure.”
For more information about today’s statement or the EAC’s work to ensure accessible and independent voting for all Americans, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at (202) 897-9285 or [email protected].
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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.