Hegarty will serve on the Board of Advisors to the Election Assistance Commission

      The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. The commission serves as a national clearinghouse and resource for information and review of procedures with respect to the administration of federal elections. According to the text of HAVA, the law was enacted to:

 “… establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission to assist in the administration of Federal elections and to otherwise provide assistance with the administration of certain Federal election laws and programs, to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections, and for other purposes.”

      The 37-member Board of Advisors advises the EAC by reviewing voluntary voting system guidelines, voluntary voting guidelines and best practices recommendations. It meets at least once a year and members are not paid for their service.

      In his capacity as chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Ehlers is allowed to appoint directly two individuals to the commission’s Board of Advisors, as vacancies occur. Hegarty is Ehlers’ first appointment to the board.

      “I spoke to many people, including Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake, all of whom told me that Terri Hegarty would be a fine appointment to this Board of Advisors,” said Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids. “Given Terri’s outstanding work at the city in running elections and helping to develop guidelines for the state of Michigan, I am certain she will be a fine addition.”

      “I’m thrilled by this appointment,” said Hegarty, who has been the Grand Rapids City Clerk since 1995, is a member of the Council of Election Officials and served on the Michigan Secretary of State’s HAVA Advisory Committee in 2003. “It’s an honor to be appointed to a board that deals with issues that are so critical to every person in this country.”

For more information about the Election Assistance Commission and the Help America Vote Act of 2002, CLICK HERE to visit the commission’s website at www.eac.gov.