Feb 26, 2019

Christy McCormick gets second term heading election security body

A polling station in Manhattan, Nov. 6, 2018. Photo: Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission announced Monday that Christy McCormick will take a second term helming the commission.

Why it matters: The EAC interfaces with states on elections, including on voluntary voting machine security standards. While Homeland Security also offers substantial resources for election security, EAC is in charge of distributing funds released last year to upgrade security and would distribute funds in the Democrats' new election security plan.

The intrigue: McCormick headed the EAC between 2015 and 2016. But in January 2017 — while she was still a commissioner — she claimed the U.S. attribution that Russia had spearheaded hacking efforts against parties and states was "political," "thin" and contained elements that were "patently untrue."

Yes, but: McCormick made the comments as part of an argument that the Department of Homeland Security should not have deemed elections as critical infrastructure. Among conservatives at that time, there was rampant paranoia that the government's motives for offering voluntary resources to states was intended as a national takeover of elections.

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 6,889,889 — Total deaths: 399,642 — Total recoveries — 3,085,326 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 11:30 p.m. ET: 1,920,061 — Total deaths: 109,802 — Total recoveries: 500,849 — Total tested: 19,778,873 — Map.
Public health: Why the pandemic is hitting minorities harder — Coronavirus curve rises in Florida — How racism threatens the response to the pandemic — Some people are drinking and inhaling cleaning products in attempt to fight the virus.
Tech: The pandemic is accelerating next-generation disease diagnostics — Robotics looks to copy software-as-a-service model.
Business: Budgets busted by coronavirus make it harder for cities to address inequality — Sports, film production in California to resume June 12 after 3-month hiatus.
Education: Students and teachers flunked remote learning.

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George Floyd updates

Protesters in Washington, D.C. on June 6. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are rallying in cities across the U.S. and around the world to protest the killing of George Floyd. Huge crowds have assembled in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago for full-day events.

Why it matters: Twelve days of nationwide protest in the U.S. has built pressure for states to make changes on what kind of force law enforcement can use on civilians and prompted officials to review police conduct. A memorial service was held for Floyd in Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born. Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all flags to fly at half-staff to honor him until sunset.

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In photos: People around the world rally against racism

Despite a ban on large gatherings implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic, protesters rally against racism in front of the American Embassy in Paris on June 6. Photo: Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people have continued to rally in cities across the world against racism and show their support this week for U.S. demonstrators protesting the death in police custody of George Floyd.

Why it matters: The tense situation in the U.S. has brought the discussion of racism and discrimination onto the global stage at a time when most of the world is consumed by the novel coronavirus.

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