Benjamin Hovland

Benjamin Hovland was a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a federal agency dedicated to election administration. He, along with the other two remaining members, was recently fired by President Donald Trump. This action left the bipartisan agency without any commissioners just months before the U.S. midterm elections. Sources indicated that Hovland, a Democrat, was dismissed along with the other Democratic commissioner. Critics have accused President Trump of attempting to "rig" the elections through this move, which effectively paralyzes the EAC. The firing of Hovland and the other commissioners is significant because it removes the leadership of the only federal agency focused on election administration at a critical time, raising concerns about the integrity and oversight of the upcoming elections.