[Image via EAC]

Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission will host the 2019 Election Data Summit on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. From the announcement:

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission will host an Election Data Summit from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

The event coincides with the release of the 2018 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) and will feature expert speakers examining how to use data to help America vote. [NOTE: My team at Fors Marsh Group was the contractor on the EAVS project – DMCj.]

The day’s keynote speakers and panel discussions will include a look at data within the newly released biennial EAVS survey, as well as broader panel conversations covering issues such as how data can be used to address election security, improve voter registration, modernize election management systems, and enact best practices for serving voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting (UOCAVA) Act.

Here’s the agenda for the day:

9:00 a.m. – Welcome and Opening Remarks
• Christy McCormick, Chairwoman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
• Ben Hovland, Vice Chair, EAC

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Panel 1 : Overview of the 2018 Midterm Elections
While the 2018 Midterm Elections are over, there are takeaways to be explored. This panel will discuss how collected data can be used to enhance future election-related activities.
• Moderator: Christy McCormick, Chairwoman, EAC
• Dr. Paul Gronke, Director, Early Voting Information Center, Reed College
• Linda Lindberg, General Registrar, Arlington, VA
• Lindsay Nielson, Researcher, Fors Marsh Group
• David Beirne, Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Panel 2: Innovative Ways to Approach Voter Registration
Voter registration is integral to the election administration process. With the ongoing enhancement of systems and increased data sharing, this panel will discuss innovative ways to use voter registration data.
• Moderator: Ben Hovland, Vice Chair, EAC
• Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team,
U.S. GAO
• David Kuennen, Senior Research Program Specialist, EAC
• Mandy Vigil, Elections Director, New Mexico Secretary of State

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Keynote : Using Data to Improve Elections: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
• Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science, MIT

12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch On Your Own

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Panel 3: Election Security: Resources, Opportunities and Considerations
Cybersecurity as it relates to elections is a hot topic. This panel will explore considerations for stakeholders looking to harden systems, and discuss resources and opportunities that are available for support during the process.
• Moderator: Thomas Hicks, Commissioner, EAC
• Keith Ingram, Director of Elections, Texas
• Jerome Lovato, Director of Testing and Certification, EAC
• Jennifer Morrell, Consultant, Democracy Fund
• Philip Reitinger, President and CEO, Global Cyber Alliance
• Colonel Teri Williams, Deputy Commander, 91st Cyber Brigade, Virginia Army National Guard

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Panel 4: Modernizing Statewide Voter Registration Databases and Election Management Systems
Modern systems can be equipped with lots of options for election administration. This panel will provide insight into how these options can improve data use and election administration.
• Moderator: Donald Palmer, Commissioner, EAC
• Ericka Haas, Systems Engineer and Technical Liaison, Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
• John Dziurlaj, Elections Consultant, Hilton Roscoe, LLC
• Daniel Ross, President, National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Panel 5: Reaching Citizen Voters Abroad
This panel will explore how UOCAVA data is used to improve outreach and inclusion of citizens living aboard and service members serving away from home.
• Moderator: Nichelle Williams, PhD, Director, Director of Research, EAC
• Krysha Gregorowicz, Senior Researcher, Fors Marsh Group
• Jared Marcotte, President, The Turnout
• Kendall Hodson, Chief of Staff, King County, WA

4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Closing Remarks
• Brian Newby, Executive Director, EAC

The event is already at capacity but you can follow the proceeding via webcast here. It should be a fantastic day and an opportunity for electiongeeks everywhere to dig into the the 2018 data … tune in!

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