U.S. Election Assistance Commission

WASHINGTON – Donetta L. Davidson was sworn in today as chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for 2007. Ms. Davidson was sworn in by Michigan Director of Elections Chris Thomas, who is also chair of EAC’s Board of Advisors.

“We all want the same thing,” said Davidson, “…to make sure elections are accurate and secure and that voters are well served. We all understand that our mission and our responsibility to voters transcend partisanship. Working together, we will continue to improve the way we conduct elections in this country.”

As a commissioner, Davidson has managed EAC’s relationship with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the efforts of EAC’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) to develop and improve voting systems equipment standards. She will continue to spearhead these efforts in 2007 as well as coordinate activities for the EAC's Board of Advisors.

At the time of her appointment and confirmation by the US Senate in August 2005, Ms. Davidson served as Colorado's secretary of state and she began her service at EAC with experience in almost every area of election administration. She was elected in 1978 as the Bent County clerk and recorder in Las Animas, Colorado, a position she held until 1986. Later that year, she was appointed director of elections for the Colorado Department of State, where she supervised county clerks in all election matters and assisted with recall issues for municipal, special district and school district elections. In 1994, she was elected Arapahoe County clerk and recorder and reelected to a second term in 1998.

The next year, Colorado Governor Bill Owens appointed Davidson as the Colorado secretary of state, which she was elected to in 2000 and reelected in 2002 for a four year term. Ms. Davidson has also served previously as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), and as president of the National Association of State Elections Directors (NASED). Prior to her EAC appointment, Ms. Davidson served as a member of EAC's Technical Guidelines Development Committee. Her term of service as commissioner extends through December 12, 2007.

EAC is an independent bipartisan commission created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, implementing election administration improvements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment and serving as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration. The three EAC commissioners are Donetta Davidson, chair; Gracia Hillman and Paul DeGregorio. One vacancy currently exists.

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