Since its passage on this date nearly two decades ago, the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) has served as a pillar of support for our nation’s electoral system – directing a bipartisan approach at the federal level to improving the accessibility and integrity of the electoral process, development of new minimum standards for voting systems, and supporting election officials who sustain the durability of our democratic process.

There are many steps than must be taken for a voting system to be certified by the EAC.  One of the most important of these steps is the process of creating a trusted build.  But what is the trusted build and why is it required?

We download and install software and software updates regularly. How do we know these applications are safe? Should we trust the download, or should we be a little more careful about what we install on our computers. When it comes to voting systems, how do you know that the software installed by the manufacturer or someone else on your team is the certified version? When you’re buying a used car, do you trust the used-car salesperson, or do you have a trusted mechanic inspect the car before you decide to buy? Most of us would opt for the trusted mechanic.

The EAC would like to thank all who entered the 2020 National Clearinghouse Awards competition, or Clearies, for best practices and innovations in election administration. The EAC Commissioners, judges, and staff were impressed with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of election officials from large to small jurisdictions who navigated record voter turnout in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their extraordinary efforts helped ensure successful 2020 elections.