Election Assistance Commission Left Without Commissioners: What Michigan Voters Should Know
After two members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission were fired and its remaining commissioner resigned, the federal agency was left without commissioners. The EAC remains operational through career staff, and Michigan’s election dates, voter registration rules, and voting procedures have not changed.
On July 9, President Donald Trump removed Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, the two Democratic members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, or EAC. The two commissioners were fired by email. Christy McCormick, the remaining Republican commissioner, resigned. A fourth seat was already vacant, leaving the commission without any commissioners.
The EAC supports state and local election officials, but it does not administer Michigan elections or count Michigan ballots. The commissioner removals do not change Michigan’s election dates, voter registration rules, voting options, or ballot-counting procedures for the August 4 Primary Election or November 3 General Election.
What the Election Assistance Commission Does
Congress created the EAC through the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission with four commissioner positions. The agency also has an executive director and career staff.
The EAC supports election administration by distributing federal election funds, maintaining information and resources for election officials, adopting voluntary national standards for voting systems, accrediting testing laboratories, and certifying voting systems. It also maintains the National Voter Registration Form.
What Can and Cannot Continue Without Commissioners
Career staff remain at the EAC, so the agency has not closed.
Staff can continue distributing funds already authorized under established requirements, testing and certifying voting systems under existing standards, maintaining election-administration resources and existing best practices, conducting research, and administering the National Voter Registration Form.
Without commissioners, the EAC cannot approve new policies, update its national voting-system guidelines, substantially change existing programs, or make other decisions that legally require at least three commissioner votes.
Staff may continue working under existing policies, but new initiatives and major updates cannot receive final approval until the commission again has at least three members able to vote.
Why Election Protection Partners Are Concerned
Election Protection partners are concerned that the firings and resignation, which left the EAC without commissioners shortly before the 2026 midterm elections, weaken the agency’s independence and prevent it from approving new policies and updated voting-system standards.
They also view the situation as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to influence election administration. State and local officials remain responsible for administering Michigan elections under current state and federal law.
What This Means for Michigan Voters
Michigan elections are administered by state and local election officials, not by the EAC.
The August 4 Primary Election and November 3 General Election remain scheduled as planned. Michigan voting laws and procedures have not changed. Voters should continue using information from their city or township clerk and other official Michigan election sources.
Michigan.gov/Vote allows voters to check their registration, find their clerk, locate an early voting site or Election Day polling place, view a sample ballot, and track an absentee ballot.
Sign Up to Serve as a VAAC Poll Challenger
VAAC is recruiting community members to serve as nonpartisan poll challengers during the 2026 elections.
Poll challengers are trained, credentialed observers. They watch election procedures and may raise concerns permitted under Michigan law through a designated election worker known as the challenger liaison.
Poll challengers do not run polling places, handle ballots, assist voters, or interfere with voting or ballot counting.
People who want to help run elections can also contact their city or township clerk about becoming a poll worker.
Michigan voters should continue using trusted state and local election information, check their registration, and make a plan to vote.
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