This month, the EAC is highlighting:
- Commissioner Ben Hovland begins his term as EAC Chairman
- Black History Month Video - A Reflection on the Selma to Montgomery Marches
- New Resources on Election Mail Handling and USPS Change of Address
- EAC Grants Policy on Artificial Intelligence and AI Toolkit
- EAVS Comment Period Ends April 3
- NCSL Spring Webinar Series: “U.S. Elections Practice and Policy”
- Commissioner McCormick helps open the LA County, CA New Ballot Processing Center
- Upcoming EAC Events:
- Election Threat Intel Briefing – March 14
- Standards Board Annual Meeting – April 17 and 18
- Board of Advisors Annual Meeting – April 18 and 19
Commissioner Ben Hovland Begins Term as EAC Chairman
On February 24, Commissioner Ben Hovland began his year-long tenure as Chairman of the EAC; a position he previously held in 2020. He will serve alongside now Vice Chair Donald Palmer and Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick.
Chairman Hovland identified the following areas he would like to build on as priorities for the agency in the coming year, including:
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Increasing EAC’s initiatives regarding the recruitment of poll workers and raising awareness about the critical need for these volunteers during elections.
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Continuing to support federal, state and local election administrators through the migration to VVSG 2.0 and the testing and certification of new election technologies.
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Prioritizing the EAC’s clearinghouse function to provide best practices in support of state and local election administrators as they strive better serve all American voters.
Chairman Hovland assumes the role in place of outgoing Chairwoman Christy McCormick, whose term spanned February 2023 through February 2024. More information can be found in the EAC’s press release announcing the transition.
Black Voting Rights: A Reflection on the Selma to Montgomery Marches
In recognition of Black History Month, Commissioners Christy McCormick and Thomas Hicks discussed the history of Black voting rights, centered on the 1965 marches in Alabama, from Selma to Montgomery. Joining them were John Suttles, a Civil Rights activist and participant in the march, and Tegan Sorensen, a park ranger at Park Ranger at the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama.
They highlighted the historical importance of this march for Civil Rights, how it continues to impact voting rights for Black Americans, and the emotions that it generates in those who originally participated then and those who celebrate its anniversary now.
Election Mail Handling Procedures to Protect Against Hazardous Materials
Mail is a key component of standard office operations and mail balloting across the country. All election offices should have procedures in place to handle mail safely and respond to potential toxic exposure. This resource, the EAC created jointly with CISA, FBI, and the USPIS, has information on how to prepare to handle mail safely, identify potentially suspicious mail, and respond to potential toxic exposure from handling mail.
USPS National Change of Address Memo
The United States Postal Service (USPS) now requires all customers using their Change of Address Service to provide proof of identity, whether online or in person. Many state or territorial election offices subscribe to National Change of Address (NCOA) data to keep voters’ address information current, which is then often passed to local election offices for processing. Given the widespread use of this data to inform voter file list maintenance, The EAC has written the National Change of Address Memo to Election Officials to provide best practices to keep voters’ address information current.
The EAC and Artificial Intelligence
In February, the EAC Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of allowing HAVA funds to be used to counter AI-generated election disinformation.
This means states may use HAVA Election Security Grant Funds to counter foreign influence in elections, election disinformation, and potential manipulation of information on voting systems and/or voting procedures disseminated and amplified by AI technologies as an allowable cost under HAVA. Additionally, states may fund voter education and trusted information communications on correct voting procedures, voting rights, and voting technology to counter AI-generated disinformation under HAVA. Read the full policy.
If there are questions, please email [email protected].
Last year, the EAC released a toolkit that provides election officials with a general understanding of AI tools, and the opportunities and threats that they create for effective election administration.
The document includes:
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An overview of existing AI tools;
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A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of these tools in the field of election administration;
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Communications Tips and Best Practices for Navigating AI-generated Content;
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A handout template that election officials can use to direct voters and constituents to verifiable sources of accurate information.
Submit Feedback on EAVS by April 3
The 30-day Public Comment period for the 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) has begun. This is your chance to provide any feedback on questions and improvements to the forthcoming 2024 EAVS and Policy Survey. The deadline to submit a comment is April 3, 2024. You can submit comments at:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/EAC-2024-0002-0001
If you have questions, contact [email protected].
NCSL Spring Webinar Series: “U.S. Elections Practice and Policy”
The EAC Commissioners are joining the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) webinar series, “U.S. Elections Practice and Policy” to discuss critical topics for this election year.
Chairman Ben Hovland will participate in “The Election Workforce: The Front Lines of Democracy,” on March 8 at 2p.m. ET. This will cover responsibilities and perils of public servants, and the benefits of civic engagement and state policies that support them.
Vice Chair Donald Palmer will participate in “After the Voting Is Over: Counting, Results Reporting, Recounts (and More),” on April 12 at 2p.m. ET. This will cover how all states address these tasks that ensure accurate and verifiable results.
Commissioner Thomas Hicks will participate in “Focus on the Voters” on May 10 at 2p.m. ET. This will cover questions voters often ask and how states “get out the information” to voters, as well as ensuring the right to vote for people with disabilities and citizens living abroad (military and otherwise).
Commissioner Christy McCormick will participate in “Voter Confidence: What Can Move the Needle” on June 14 at 2p.m. ET. This will cover state policies, processes, and procedures that can increase voter confidence.
Get more information on the series here.
Commissioner McCormick Commemorates the Opening of the Ballot Processing Center in Los Angeles County, California
On February 20th, Commissioner Christy McCormick participated in the opening of the new LA County Ballot Processing Center. The purpose of the new facility is to process ballots in one location, and better allow the public to observe the steps involved in the counting process.
During the occasion, she remarked, “We are in a time where people are concerned about competence in elections, and this is a way that people can become more confident that their elections are run safely and securely. Get involved, see the process, find out for yourself how it works and help your community.”
Read more about this occasion and facility at the Pasadena Star News.
SAVE THE DATE:
Election Threat Intel Briefing on March 14
The EAC with Mandiant is hosting the second quarterly Election Threat Intel Briefing on Thursday, March 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET. This webinar is open to election officials and colleagues who may benefit from this briefing, such as IT or cyber staff. Registration is required to receive the Webex meeting link.
The briefing will include a strategic outlook and provide recommendations to election offices reinforce election operations against cyber-enabled threats that target U.S. elections infrastructure.
Standards Board Annual Meeting – April 17 and 18
The EAC’s Standards Board will host its Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. At this meeting, the board members will discuss EAC projects, 2024 priorities, artificial intelligence, and more. This meeting is open to the public. Registration is required to attend and this meeting will not be live streamed. Learn more on the meeting event page.
Board of Advisors Annual Meeting – April 18 and 19
The EAC’s Board of Advisors will host its Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. At this meeting, the board members will discuss artificial intelligence, USPS mail safety and procedures, ethical standards for election administration, and more. This meeting is open to the public. Registration is required to attend and this meeting will not be live streamed. Learn more on the meeting event page.