52 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2022 Edition
Title 52 - VOTING AND ELECTIONS
Subtitle II - Voting Assistance and Election Administration
CHAPTER 209 - ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT
SUBCHAPTER II - COMMISSION
Part A - Establishment and General Organization
subpart 2 - election assistance commission standards board and board of advisors
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

### subpart 2—election assistance commission standards board and board of advisors

### §20941. Establishment

There are hereby established the Election Assistance Commission Standards Board (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the "Standards Board") and the Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the "Board of Advisors").

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §211, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1678.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15341 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### §20942. Duties

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors shall each, in accordance with the procedures described in subpart 3 of this part, review the voluntary voting system guidelines under such subpart, the voluntary guidance under subchapter III, and the best practices recommendations contained in the report submitted under section 20982(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §212, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1678.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

Subchapter III, referred to in text, was in the original "title III", meaning title III of Pub. L. 107–252, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1704, which is classified principally to subchapter III (§21081 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of title III to the Code, see Tables.

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15342 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### §20943. Membership of Standards Board

#### (a) Composition

#### (1) In general

Subject to certification by the chair of the Federal Election Commission under subsection (b), the Standards Board shall be composed of 110 members as follows:

(A) Fifty-five shall be State election officials selected by the chief State election official of each State.

(B) Fifty-five shall be local election officials selected in accordance with paragraph (2).

#### (2) List of local election officials

Each State's local election officials, including the local election officials of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, shall select (under a process supervised by the chief election official of the State) a representative local election official from the State for purposes of paragraph (1)(B). In the case of the District of Columbia, Guam, and American Samoa, the chief election official shall establish a procedure for selecting an individual to serve as a local election official for purposes of such paragraph, except that under such a procedure the individual selected may not be a member of the same political party as the chief election official.

#### (3) Requiring mix of political parties represented

The two members of the Standards Board who represent the same State may not be members of the same political party.

#### (b) Procedures for notice and certification of appointment

#### (1) Notice to chair of Federal Election Commission

Not later than 90 days after October 29, 2002, the chief State election official of the State shall transmit a notice to the chair of the Federal Election Commission containing—

(A) the name of the State election official who agrees to serve on the Standards Board under this subchapter; and

(B) the name of the representative local election official from the State selected under subsection (a)(2) who agrees to serve on the Standards Board under this subchapter.

#### (2) Certification

Upon receiving a notice from a State under paragraph (1), the chair of the Federal Election Commission shall publish a certification that the selected State election official and the representative local election official are appointed as members of the Standards Board under this subchapter.

#### (3) Effect of failure to provide notice

If a State does not transmit a notice to the chair of the Federal Election Commission under paragraph (1) within the deadline described in such paragraph, no representative from the State may participate in the selection of the initial Executive Board under subsection (c).

#### (4) Role of Commission

Upon the appointment of the members of the Election Assistance Commission, the Election Assistance Commission shall carry out the duties of the Federal Election Commission under this subsection.

#### (c) Executive Board

#### (1) In general

Not later than 60 days after the last day on which the appointment of any of its members may be certified under subsection (b), the Standards Board shall select nine of its members to serve as the Executive Board of the Standards Board, of whom—

(A) not more than five may be State election officials;

(B) not more than five may be local election officials; and

(C) not more than five may be members of the same political party.

#### (2) Terms

Except as provided in paragraph (3), members of the Executive Board of the Standards Board shall serve for a term of 2 years and may not serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.

#### (3) Staggering of initial terms

Of the members first selected to serve on the Executive Board of the Standards Board—

(A) three shall serve for 1 term;

(B) three shall serve for 2 consecutive terms; and

(C) three shall serve for 3 consecutive terms,

as determined by lot at the time the members are first appointed.

#### (4) Duties

In addition to any other duties assigned under this subchapter, the Executive Board of the Standards Board may carry out such duties of the Standards Board as the Standards Board may delegate.

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §213, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1678.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15343 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### §20944. Membership of Board of Advisors

#### (a) In general

The Board of Advisors shall be composed of 37 members appointed as follows:

(1) Two members appointed by the National Governors Association.

(2) Two members appointed by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

(3) Two members appointed by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

(4) Two members appointed by the National Association of State Election Directors.

(5) Two members appointed by the National Association of Counties.

(6) Two members appointed by the National Association of County Recorders, Election Administrators, and Clerks.1

(7) Two members appointed by the United States Conference of Mayors.

(8) Two members appointed by the Election Center.

(9) Two members appointed by the International Association of County Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers.2

(10) Two members appointed by the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

(11) Two members appointed by the Architectural and Transportation Barrier 3 Compliance Board under section 792 of title 29.

(12) The chief of the Office of Public Integrity of the Department of Justice,4 or the chief's designee.

(13) The chief of the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice or the chief's designee.

(14) The director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.

(15) Four members representing professionals in the field of science and technology, of whom—

(A) one each shall be appointed by the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(B) one each shall be appointed by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(16) Eight members representing voter interests, of whom—

(A) four members shall be appointed by the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, of whom two shall be appointed by the chair and two shall be appointed by the ranking minority member; and

(B) four members shall be appointed by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, of whom two shall be appointed by the chair and two shall be appointed by the ranking minority member.

#### (b) Manner of appointments

Appointments shall be made to the Board of Advisors under subsection (a) in a manner which ensures that the Board of Advisors will be bipartisan in nature and will reflect the various geographic regions of the United States.

#### (c) Term of service; vacancy

Members of the Board of Advisors shall serve for a term of 2 years, and may be reappointed. Any vacancy in the Board of Advisors shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

#### (d) Chair

The Board of Advisors shall elect a Chair from among its members.

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §214, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1680.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15344 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

1 So in original. Probably should be "National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks."

2 So in original. Probably should be "International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers."

3 So in original. Probably should be "Barriers".

4 So in original. Probably means the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice.

### §20945. Powers of Boards; no compensation for service

#### (a) Hearings and sessions

#### (1) In general

To the extent that funds are made available by the Commission, the Standards Board (acting through the Executive Board) and the Board of Advisors may each hold such hearings for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as each such Board considers advisable to carry out this subchapter, except that the Boards may not issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of any evidence.

#### (2) Meetings

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors shall each hold a meeting of its members—

(A) not less frequently than once every year for purposes of voting on the voluntary voting system guidelines referred to it under section 20962 of this title;

(B) in the case of the Standards Board, not less frequently than once every 2 years for purposes of selecting the Executive Board; and

(C) at such other times as it considers appropriate for purposes of conducting such other business as it considers appropriate consistent with this subchapter.

#### (b) Information from Federal agencies

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors may each secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Board considers necessary to carry out this chapter. Upon request of the Executive Board (in the case of the Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the Board of Advisors), the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Board.

#### (c) Postal services

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department or agency of the Federal Government.

#### (d) Administrative support services

Upon the request of the Executive Board (in the case of the Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the Board of Advisors), the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Board, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services that are necessary to enable the Board to carry out its duties under this subchapter.

#### (e) No compensation for service

Members of the Standards Board and members of the Board of Advisors shall not receive any compensation for their service, but shall be paid travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board.

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §215, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1681.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–252, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1666, known as the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15345 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### §20946. Status of Boards and members for purposes of claims against Board

#### (a) In general

The provisions of chapters 161 and 171 of title 28 shall apply with respect to the liability of the Standards Board, the Board of Advisors, and their members for acts or omissions performed pursuant to and in the course of the duties and responsibilities of the Board.

#### (b) Exception for criminal acts and other willful conduct

Subsection (a) may not be construed to limit personal liability for criminal acts or omissions, willful or malicious misconduct, acts or omissions for private gain, or any other act or omission outside the scope of the service of a member of the Standards Board or the Board of Advisors.

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, §216, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1681.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15346 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.