Secretary of State
Grayson Named Chairman of National Elections Committee

(St. Paul, Minnesota) – States across the country are working feverishly to implement changes in their election process by deadlines in 2006 imposed by the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA).  As they head into the home stretch of this mandate, many states will turn to Kentucky and its Secretary of State, Trey Grayson, for help in this implementation.  Grayson, who at age 33 is the youngest Secretary of State in the country, was appointed to serve as the chairman of the elections committee of the National Association of Secretary of State’s (NASS) summer conference this past week in Minnesota.

“The country is facing some important changes in this upcoming election,” stated Grayson after his appointment.  “I look forward to helping my colleagues around the country with this transition as well as looking for the most innovative ideas to provide greater access to the election process while providing an atmosphere for corruption free elections.”

Grayson was appointed by the newly elected President of NASS, Secretary of State Donetta Davidson (R-CO).  Davidson was recently appointed to the Election Assistance Commission by President George W. Bush and will serve as NASS president until her confirmation.  Grayson previously served as the vice-chairman of the voter participation committee under an appointment from outgoing NASS president Rebecca Vigil-Giron (D-NM).  He will continue to serve as a member of the voter participation, business services, and presidential primaries committees.

Kentucky is well on its way to meeting the mandates set out by HAVA and, in many instances, has served as a model for other states’ implementation.  Most notably, the state has utilized a statewide voter registration system for nearly three decades.   Kentucky has also served as leader in other technologies which Grayson has placed as a top priority in his administration. He credited the outstanding work of past Kentucky Secretaries of State, County Clerks, and State Board of Elections members and staff for helping place Kentucky in the limelight for well-run elections.

Secretary Grayson noted that he also has big plans for the election committee beyond HAVA legislation.  “I think there is much work Secretaries of State can do to utilize technology in building a stronger election process.  We will be exploring a number of ways that technology can aid not only elections officials but most importantly, our constituents.”

Grayson currently serves as Chairman of the Republican Association of Secretaries of State and on numerous state and national boards for non-profits and other associations. 

Earlier in his term, Secretary Grayson was named a “Rising Star” in the Republican Party by United Leaders, a nonpartisan, nonprofit action tank based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He was also one of 40 state leaders from across the country selected to participate in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by The Council of State Governments.

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