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In almost literally the last gasp of the 115th Congress, the U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed the nominations of Ben Hovland and Don Palmer to serve as Commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The Hill has more:

The Senate signed off on dozens of President Trump‘s nominees hours before the deadline to either approve them or force the administration to nominate them.

The Senate confirmed more than 60 nominations by voice vote on Wednesday night, the final day of the 115th Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that he and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) had reached a deal on executive-branch nominations.

“I’m glad the president will have more of his rightful team in place, and I’m glad that this group of newly confirmed nominees will be able to get to work on important business for the American people,” McConnell said shortly before the slate of nominees was confirmed.

The confirmation restores the EAC to full membership for the first time in years, and will provide a quorum for a wide range of initiatives including voting system standards. The new Commissioners won’t start right away, however; the EAC is included in the current ongoing partial government shutdown pending a funding agreement between the White House and the new 116th Congress which convenes today.

Still, the confirmation votes are a huge step forward for the EAC just as we begin a Presidential election cycle. Congratulations to Commissioners Hovland and Palmer – here’s hoping you can get to work very soon! Stay tuned …

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