Is the Election Assistance Commission Worth Keeping?

Abstract

Abstract

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) created the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). As policymakers debate the merits of HAVA, the area receiving the most scrutiny is the performance of the EAC. This essay offers my own thoughts on that question as one of the EAC's founding commissioners. My preliminary view is that the EAC – despite its missteps and ongoing difficulties – is worth keeping. Although it has discharged much of its original mandate, much work remains to be done. A federal role in overseeing election administration remains vital, and there is no evident substitute for the EAC.