--Press Release--

Washington, DC - The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has sent a letter to J. Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State of Ohio, to clarify the EAC's stance on the use of provisional ballots that are mandated by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The letter sent by DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., Chairman of the EAC on behalf of all members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, requests that Mr. Blackwell, "refrain from characterizing its [EAC] resolution as an endorsement of your actions and procedures or as taking a position in the pending litigation in your state". The letter was sent after press accounts described Mr. Blackwell as having characterized an EAC resolution on provisional voting as supporting his procedures for administering provisional ballots in Ohio. The EAC resolution included suggestions about provisional voting procedures and the need to ensure that those procedures are taught to poll workers and fairly administered with voters. According to the letter, the "EAC has not and will not take a position on the pending litigation in your state" (Ohio).

The original resolution from the EAC can be seen by visiting, http://www.eac.gov/News/meetings/ploneexfile.2006-04-18.7314333528.

*The U.S. Election Assistance Commission was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The Commission is charged with administering voluntary guidelines for election requirements under HAVA, maintaining a clearinghouse of information regarding election administration procedures including testing and certification of election equipment, and administering the Election Assistance and Help America Vote Programs. The EAC commissioners are DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., Chairman; Gracia M. Hillman, Vice Chair, Paul DeGregorio and Ray Martinez III.