--Press Release--

Washington, DC - In a ceremony led by Members of Congress, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) today installed the Honorable Paul DeGregorio as vice chair of the agency. Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH), chairman of the U.S. House Administration Committee, participated in the installation along with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Congressman John Larson (D-CT).

DeGregorio, a former director of elections for St. Louis County, Missouri, will hold the EAC leadership position for one year. He is a Republican appointee who served on the Commission during 2004, its first year in existence.

“I am proud to serve on the EAC with three distinguished Americans who share my deep commitment to the cause of electoral reform in the United States,” said DeGregorio. “As vice chair, I look forward to building upon what we've accomplished and furthering our mission to increase trust and confidence in the voting process for every American.”

DeGregorio is nationally-renowned in the elections field. His areas of expertise include U.S. election administration, as well as democracy building and international elections. In 2004, he received the NASS Freedom Award from the National Association of Secretaries of State in recognition of his accomplishments.

Prior to his appointment with EAC, DeGregorio served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), a leading institution involved in the promotion of democracy worldwide. He was responsible for the organization’s day-to-day operation, overseeing more than 400 employees in 23 countries. At IFES, DeGregorio also provided leadership on U.S. election reform initiatives and led a team that supplied technical advice in Florida and Missouri during the November 2002 elections.

From 1985 to 1993, DeGregorio served as the director of elections for St. Louis County, Missouri’s largest jurisdiction. During his tenure, he instituted major improvements in voter registration, training, disability access, counting and management procedures. He was recognized for his efforts in prosecuting voter fraud and drafting legislation to improve the electoral process. He served as co-chair of the Missouri Election Reform Commission in 2001. A native of St. Louis, DeGregorio, 52, received his degree in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is married to Kerry DeGregorio and has four daughters—Katie, Annie, Debbie and Emily—as well as one granddaughter, Victoria.

Congress created the U.S. EAC under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), which authorizes $3.9 billion for states to enact a variety of election reforms. The agency was not formally established until December 2003, when Congress confirmed the appointments of the four Commissioners.

New EAC Chair Gracia Hillman nominated DeGregorio for the 2005 vice chair position. The motion was approved unanimously by his fellow Commissioners. In addition to DeGregorio and Hillman, the commission includes the Honorable DeForest Soaries, Jr., and the Honorable Ray Martinez.

Federal law requires EAC to carry out research studies and produce voluntary guidance on a range of topics in 2005. The Commission is working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop updated voluntary voting systems standards and recommendations for making e-voting equipment more secure. EAC also plans to issue voluntary guidance for states on provisional ballots, voter identification requirements for first-time voters, statewide voter registration databases and voter information materials.

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