Image
Thomas Hicks has served on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) since January 2015, when he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. Mr. Hicks currently serves as Chairman of the EAC and the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) of the Technical Guidelines Development Committee.
Mr. Hicks has focused his efforts on voter access. Under his leadership, the EAC developed a pocket-sized voter card that serves as a guide on voting rights for voters with disabilities. The card is provided in both Braille and large print. The EAC has worked with advocacy groups and election officials to distribute the card.
Mr. Hicks continues to stress the need for more young people to become involved as poll workers and in the voting process, and he was featured in a New York Times publication with a profile highlighting his efforts. Mr. Hicks is a frequent speaker at conferences in the United States and overseas.
Prior to his appointment to the EAC, Mr. Hicks served in senior roles on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration. Mr. Hicks was responsible for issues relating to campaign finance, election reform, contested elections, and oversight of both the EAC and the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Mr. Hicks received his J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and his B.A. in Government from Clark University (Worcester, MA). He also studied at the University of London (London, England) and the University of Adelaide (Adelaide, Australia).