Since February, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has operated with only two members, Chair Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick. The lack of a quorum has prevented the four-member body from voting on a number of election and security-related initiatives. That dynamic is set to change as the Senate Rules Committee scheduled a hearing this week to consider the nominations of two additional commissioners, Donald Palmer and Benjamin Hovland, to fill the remaining slots. During a Nov. 26 board meeting, Hicks noted that “should they be confirmed, hopefully by early January or February, this will be the first time since 2010 we’ll have a full contingent of four commissioners at EAC.”
Confirming even a single nominee would allow the commission to approve an update of voluntary voting system guidelines that states use to guide procurement decisions when purchasing voting machines. The new version, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and containing a range of updated guidance around cybersecurity, has languished over the past year waiting for EAC approval.
Full Article: FCW Insider Nov. 27 — FCW.