A little-known federal agency is at the center of Trump's executive order to overhaul US elections
Source: Associated Press
A little-known federal agency is at the center of Trump’s executive order to overhaul US elections
By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY
Updated 12:45 PM EDT, April 23, 2025
ATLANTA (AP) — Florida’s “hanging chads” ballot controversy riveted the nation during the 2000 presidential contest and later prompted Congress to create an independent commission to help states update their voting equipment.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has operated in relative anonymity since, but is now central to President Donald Trump’sexecutive order seeking to overhaul elections. One of the commission’s boards will meet Thursday in North Carolina, the first commission-related meeting since the directives were announced.
Among other things, Trump directed the agency to update the national voter registration form to add a proof of citizenship requirement. But whether the president can order an independent agency to act and whether the commission has the authority to do what Trump wants will likely be settled in court.
Why was the commission created?
Congress approved the Help America Vote Act in 2002 to help states replace outdated voting systems and improve the voting experience.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-voting-executive-order-eac-419ed4db0ea30b69bf47d11647a6b816