Statement by International IDEA on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

International IDEA notes with concern the removal of the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which leaves the Commission without any sitting members.

The United States has a long tradition of professionally administered elections conducted by state and local election authorities across the political spectrum. The EAC has supported this system from a federal level by testing and certifying voting systems, distributing federal election assistance, developing voluntary guidelines, and providing technical expertise and support to election officials. The bipartisan governance of the EAC has been an important expression of the United States' longstanding commitment to politically neutral election administration.

International good practice underscores the importance of preserving the stability, independence and public credibility of election management institutions, particularly during the period immediately preceding an election. While previous periods without a fully constituted Commission have not prevented elections from taking place, significant changes to the leadership or governance of electoral institutions only months before nationwide elections, even where their operational functions continue, risk creating uncertainty and may affect public confidence in the impartiality of the electoral process.

International IDEA has consistently emphasized that credible elections depend not only on effective administration, but also on public confidence that electoral institutions operate impartially, transparently and free from undue political influence. Preserving these principles, including through protection against arbitrary dismissal and other measures outlined in the Stockholm Consensus on Electoral Integrity, remains essential to maintaining trust in democratic institutions and electoral processes in the United States.