Donald Trump ousts election commission members in latest push to reshape US voting process
Summary
President Donald Trump has removed members of the federal Election Assistance Commission, a group that helps oversee parts of U.S. elections. This action follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing the president to fire members of independent agencies and is related to disputes over voter registration rules.Key Facts
- President Trump ousted two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland.
- The commission oversees federal grants to states, testing of voting systems, and manages national voter registration forms.
- The Republican member, Christy McCormick, resigned, and former Republican commissioner Donald Palmer had left earlier.
- The removed members had resisted Trump’s push to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.
- A federal judge blocked Trump’s March 2025 executive order demanding this citizenship proof, ruling the president lacks that power.
- The White House cited a Supreme Court decision that gives the president authority to remove these officials.
- It is unclear if Trump will nominate new members soon or leave the positions empty, which may affect election support before the 2026 midterms.
- The Election Assistance Commission was created by a 2002 law requiring two Democrats and two Republicans as members, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
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