FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29, 2018
Silver Spring, Md. – Today marks the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by President George W. Bush, watershed legislation that improved the accessibility and administration of Federal Elections and established the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to provide guidance and resources to election officials around the country.
As the midterm elections approach, EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks and Vice Chair Christy McCormick issued the following statement marking today’s anniversary:
“Next week, election officials from across the nation will administer the midterm Federal Election, ensuring that American voters can participate in accessible, secure and efficient elections. Since the enactment of the Help America Vote Act, the EAC has proudly served as a federal resource for both these election officials and the voters they serve.
“The EAC’s mission remains as important today as at any time since HAVA was enacted. Our administration of federal funds appropriated by Congress, original research, and robust resources support election administrators in every aspect of their work to help America vote. In addition, the EAC’s work to establish the voluntary voting system guidelines, test and certify voting systems, and make systems and materials more secure and accessible for all people ensures the process works for all voters. We also provide voters with vital information they need to participate in our democracy.
“Today, the EAC celebrates the impact of HAVA and reaffirms its commitment to helping election officials around the country administer accessible, accurate and secure elections. We encourage eligible voters to participate in next week’s Federal Election, and we thank the nation’s election officials for their ongoing work to administer the vote.”
The United States Congress passed HAVA in 2002 to set new mandatory minimum standards for states to follow in several key areas of election administration and to invest in and strengthen the nation’s voting process. To help states make these important advancements, HAVA created the EAC to help ensure election systems and practices comply with federal standards. For the last 16 years, HAVA, and the EAC, have provided state and local election officials with resources and guidance to ensure all Americans can participate fully in our nation’s democracy, and vote privately and independently.
For more information about HAVA or the EAC, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at [email protected] or 202-897-9285.