WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) announced that Commissioner Donald Palmer will be departing the agency on April 30. Commissioner Palmer was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 2019.
In a joint statement, EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks, Vice Chair Christy McCormick, and Commissioner Ben Hovland said, “Commissioner Palmer has been an important part of the EAC’s leadership and contributed significantly to the agency’s growth. Drawing on his experience as a state election official, he offered valuable insight as the agency worked to better serve administrators nationwide. Throughout his tenure, he helped expand the agency’s work to strengthen the security of voting systems and election technology. He has traveled across the country and around the world promoting our nation’s democratic principles and highlighting the United States as a beacon of democracy. His passion for elections and support of officials is matched by his dedication to the mission of the agency and the staff who work hard to fulfill it. He leaves a lasting legacy in this chapter of the EAC’s history. We thank him for his military service, decades of service in election administration, his over seven years of service at the EAC, and his steadfast commitment to the American people.”
The appointment process for EAC Commissioners is detailed in Section 203 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The Speaker of the House of Representatives submitted Commissioner Palmer’s name to the President in 2018.
For more information on Commissioner Palmer, his full biography is available on the EAC’s website.