President Trump today terminated two members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the agency’s remaining Republican commissioner resigned. This leaves the Election Assistance Commission — a bipartisan agency tasked with supporting states so they can run accurate, secure elections — with no commissioners.
Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, had the following reaction:
“Today’s terminations are deeply concerning in light of President Trump’s relentless efforts to try to interfere in elections.
“Congress deliberately structured the Election Assistance Commission as a bipartisan agency to help states administer free, fair, and secure elections.
“These removals leave the agency without leadership and unable to carry out its major responsibilities.
“The guardrails Congress placed on this agency are clear and must be followed: the Election Assistance Commission was designed to be bipartisan with four members, no more than two of which can be from the same political party. The agency cannot make any significant decisions or take any significant actions unless three confirmed commissioners agree. Until bipartisan replacements are confirmed, the agency cannot lawfully make any decisions that affect how Americans vote.”