ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13639Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13639

Establishment of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration

This executive order creates a nine-member presidential commission to study and recommend best practices for improving U.S. election administration, with a focus on reducing voter wait times and addressing barriers faced by military members, overseas voters, people with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency. The commission is purely advisory, must submit a final report within six months of its first public meeting, and terminates 30 days after delivering that report.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 19979

Impact dates

  1. Commission termination

  2. Final report due to President

Key directives

  • Establish Presidential Commission on Election Administration with max 9 members
  • Appoint members with election administration experience and customer service business representatives
  • Identify best practices and make recommendations on polling place management, poll workers, voter rolls, voting technology, ballot design, accessibility, provisional ballots, absentee ballots, and emergency contingency plans
  • Submit final report within 6 months of first public meeting
  • Terminate 30 days after presenting final report
  • GSA to provide administrative support subject to appropriations availability

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Commission establishment
  • Presidential appointment of up to 9 members and 2 Co-Chairs

Near term (90d)

  • First public meeting (trigger for 6-month report deadline)
  • Public engagement with officials and organizations begins

Long term

  • Final report submission to President
  • Commission termination 30 days after report delivery

Risks & tensions

  • Advisory-only status means recommendations lack enforcement mechanism; implementation depends on voluntary state/local adoption
  • 6-month reporting deadline measured from first public meeting, not signing date, creating indeterminate timeline
  • Subject to availability of appropriations creates funding uncertainty
  • Explicit disclaimer that EO creates no enforceable rights limits legal leverage
  • Vague 'as appropriate' and 'as necessary' qualifiers on scope of issues to consider
Executive Order 13639: Establishment of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration · Executive Orders