PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

§20945 Powers of Boards; No Compensation for Service

Title 52 › Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration › CHAPTER 209 — ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMISSION › Part A — Establishment and General Organization › subpart 2 — election assistance commission standards board and board of advisors › § 20945

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Commission provides money, the Standards Board and the Board of Advisors can hold hearings, meet in different places, take testimony, and accept evidence to do their work. They cannot force people to attend or to produce records. Each Board must meet at least once a year to vote on the voluntary voting system guidelines under section 20962. The Standards Board must meet at least once every 2 years to pick its Executive Board and may meet more often when needed. Each Board can ask federal agencies directly for information, and the agencies must give it when asked by the Executive Board (for the Standards Board) or the Chair (for the Board of Advisors). The Boards may use U.S. mail like a federal agency. The General Services Administration must provide administrative help if asked, and the Boards must repay the cost. Board members get no pay for serving, but they are paid travel costs and per diem at the rates set for federal employees under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 when they are away from home doing Board work.

Title 52, §20945

Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Hearings and sessions

(1)In general

To the extent that funds are made available by the Commission, the Standards Board (acting through the Executive Board) and the Board of Advisors may each hold such hearings for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as each such Board considers advisable to carry out this subchapter, except that the Boards may not issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of any evidence.

(2)Meetings

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors shall each hold a meeting of its members—

(A)not less frequently than once every year for purposes of voting on the voluntary voting system guidelines referred to it under section 20962 of this title;

(B)in the case of the Standards Board, not less frequently than once every 2 years for purposes of selecting the Executive Board; and

(C)at such other times as it considers appropriate for purposes of conducting such other business as it considers appropriate consistent with this subchapter.

(b)Information from Federal agencies

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors may each secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Board considers necessary to carry out this chapter. Upon request of the Executive Board (in the case of the Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the Board of Advisors), the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Board.

(c)Postal services

The Standards Board and the Board of Advisors may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department or agency of the Federal Government.

(d)Administrative support services

Upon the request of the Executive Board (in the case of the Standards Board) or the Chair (in the case of the Board of Advisors), the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Board, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services that are necessary to enable the Board to carry out its duties under this subchapter.

(e)No compensation for service

Members of the Standards Board and members of the Board of Advisors shall not receive any compensation for their service, but shall be paid travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 107–252, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1666, known as the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15345 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.