Federal Election Reform | Hearings

Recent Hearings on Election Issues in the 112th Congress

The following is a list of Congressional hearings on election issues in the 112th Congress. The hearings are listed in reverse chronological order. Where available, links to hearing announcements, video or audio of a hearing, and witness testimony are provided.

Click here to access information, including testimony, from hearings held during the 110th and 111th Congresses.

House vote on a bill to abolish the Election Assistance Commission and public financing for presidential campaigns

December 1, 2011 | House floor vote

The House of Representatives voted, virtually along party lines, to pass HR 3463, a bill introduced by Rep. Harper (R-MS) to dismantle the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and end public financing for presidential campaigns. Mr. Harper had previously introduced HR. 672, which would have abolished only the EAC. Read the Hill's coverage of the vote here, and coverage of a letter sent by the Brennan Center and other groups in support of public presidential financing here. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated that the bill has no chance of passage in the Senate.

Hearing on "New State Laws: Barriers to the Ballot"

September 8, 2011 | 2:00 p.m. | 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights

Witnesses    

  • The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver, Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus, United States Congressman State of Missouri
  • The Honorable Charles Gonzalez, Chairman, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, United States Congressman State of Texas
  • The Honorable Todd Rokita, United States Congressman State of Indiana
  • Judith A. Browne-Dianis, Co-director, Advancement Project
  • Justin Levitt, Professor, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  • Hans A. Von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow, Heritage Foundation

Bill Mark-Up on HR 672, a bill to terminate the Election Assistance Commission

May 25, 2011 | 10:30 a.m | 1310 Longworth House Office Building

House Administration Committee

The House Administration Committee met to mark up HR 672, which would abolish the Election Assistance Commission established by HAVA (the Help America Vote Act). The Committee passed the bill along party lines.

Hearing on: "The Fair Elections Now Act: A Comprehensive Response to Citizens United"

April 12th, 2011 | 10:00 a.m. | 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights

Witnesses:    

  • The Honorable Alan Simpson, Former United States Senator, Cody, WY 
  • Monica Youn, Senior Counsel, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, New York, NY 
  • Cleta Mitchell, Partner, Foley & Lardner, Washington, DC

 

Hearing on: "The 2010 Election: A Look Back At What Went Right and Wrong"
March 31, 2011 | 10:30 a.m. | 1310 Longworth Building
U.S. House Committee on House Administration

Witnesses    

  • The Honorable Scott Gessler, Colorado Secretary of State
  • The Honorable Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of State
  • Ms. Susan Gill, Supervisor of Elections, Citrus County, Florida 
  • Mr. Ken Carbullido, Senior Vice-President of Voting Systems, Election Systems and Software, Inc.
  • Mr. Lawrence Norden, Deputy Director, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

Hearing on: Election Assistance Commission Operations and 2012 Budget Request
March 17, 2011 | 1310 Longworth Building
U.S. House Committee on House Administration

Witnesses

  • The Honorable Donetta Davidson, Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission 
  • The Honorable Gineen Bresso, Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission 
  • Mr. Thomas Wilkey, Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission 
  • Ms. Alice Miller, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Election Assistance Commission 
  • Ms. Annette Lafferty, Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Election Assistance Commission

Hearing on: Effectiveness of the MOVE Act in the 2010 Election
February 15, 2011 | 1310 Longworth Building
U.S. House Committee on House Administration

Witnesses

Panel 1: 

  • The Honorable Thomas E. Perez Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice
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Panel 2: 

  • The Honorable Natalie E. Tennant, Secretary of State, West Virginia  
  • Mr. J. Bradley King, Co-Director, Election Division, Indiana Secretary of State
  • Mr. David Stafford, Supervisor of Elections, Escambia County, Florida    
  • Mr. Rick Jones, Co-Chair, Alliance for Military and Overseas Voting Rights 
  • Mr. Eric Eversole,  Executive Director, Military Voter Protection Project