Trump ousts 3 US election commission members before midterms
Why it matters: The firings leave the bipartisan agency that certifies voting systems and manages a federal registration form without sitting commissioners.
President Donald Trump removed the last three members of the US Election Assistance Commission on July 9, clearing out the independent agency as the November midterm elections approach. The White House confirmed the move after one Republican appointee resigned and two Democratic appointees, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were dismissed by email from the Presidential Personnel Office. Christy McCormick, the other remaining commissioner, also left, while the fourth seat had been vacant since April. Created by Congress in 2002, the bipartisan commission helps election officials, accredits testing labs, certifies voting systems and maintains the national mail voter registration form.