Commissioners from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) traveled to the National Postal Forum in Indiana, the “Crossroads of America,” this week to discuss how the USPS can work with election officials to better serve American voters as an increasing number of Americans are choosing, or required, to vote by mail.

Today, U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Testing & Certification Director Brian Hancock has retired after 35 years in the federal government. Brian is a highly respected election technology expert and a treasured colleague. On behalf of all the Commissioners, and the EAC staff, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Brian for his lifetime of service to the election community.

During the second panel of the EAC Election Readiness Summit, I will speak with election officials about the importance of putting voters first and ensuring the process of voting is as easy as possible. Their innovative approaches and unique programs have improved the accessibility, security, and efficiency of elections, and we’re looking forward to highlighting their work.

Those who serve and protect our republic, like all Americans, deserve every opportunity to shape it. As we approach National Voter Registration Day on September 25, it is important to remember the challenges faced by UOCAVA voters when registering to vote and how election officials can support their voting experience.

Following the summit’s opening session and remarks from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, I will be sitting down with a panel of election officials and language assistance experts to discuss cost-effective practices for providing language assistance.

The cyclical nature of elections sometimes brings to mind the classic Bill Murray film, “Groundhog Day,” which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. It took Phil Connors multiple attempts to “get it right” when dealing with the unexpected, but election officials don’t have that same luxury of time.

A recent House of Delegates race in Virginia played out in the national spotlight due to its razor-thin margin, the back-and-forth results between candidates Shelly Simonds and David Yancey, and the political stakes associated with the ultimate winner. No matter which candidate ultimately is declared the next delegate to represent Virginia’s 94th district, the race has offered a powerful teaching moment about American elections and the impact of every single vote.

With so much available data, figuring out how to analyze and use it can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Ways to use the EAVS and other election research to improve elections will be the focus of the panel “Election Efficiency & Integrity: Improving the Voter Experience” during next month’s EAC Summit: The 2018 Federal Election. This morning, the EAC announced the four expert panelists who join me for this discussion.

While it seems there’s plenty of time to think about registering to vote or figuring out your polling place location, not every American has that luxury. Our country’s active duty service members, their families, and Americans living overseas are charged with taking on significantly more responsibility, and planning much further ahead, than the average voter if they want to cast a ballot on Election Day.

I was honored to give a talk to the students in the Election Law Society at the William & Mary Law School. In other words, I was invited to speak with baby lawyers in the making (no disrespect intended, students!). Having been in that position some years back (hey, not THAT long ago!), in addition to passing my finals and eventually the bar exam, I remember being slightly obsessed with getting a summer job – and a real job, once I graduated.

Spring cleaning is a bit of an art and a science – and so is list maintenance. The EAC is here to help with tools and best practices. March is our GamePlan17 "List Maintenance" month. Start by reviewing your plan (and if you don’t have one, now is the time to make one), check to be sure you are following all the legal requirements, be sure you are using the most up-to-date databases, and start sweeping and scrubbing. Check out our website for information and call us if you need help.

On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, election administrators played their equivalent to the Super Bowl. With all the months and months of daily hard work that it takes to pull off Election Day, no doubt they probably wish they could take the Wednesday after as a holiday, too. The most they get is a few hours of sleep early Wednesday morning before they have to go back to the office and make sure the vote tally is completed and accurate in preparation for certification of the final result.