The Election Assistance Commission represents a major, unprecedented commitment from the federal government to sustained freedom and vibrant democracy. I am humbled by the prospect of being one its charter members.

When I was growing up, we used to play basketball in a park that was never shoveled when it snowed. The basketball rims were never fixed. And we understood then that there was a relationship between public policy and our quality of life.

And when people in power can stay in power they do very little to tinker with the apparatus that put them in power.

It's an embarrassment that we don't have a broad enough consensus among political leaders that true reform should take place.

When public access to voting is impaired or when public confidence in voting is diluted, democracy suffers and our freedom is less secure.

When Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002, I was thrilled to learn that the federal government would offer resources to all states to assist them in enhancing the voting process in America.

I was the Secretary of State of New Jersey in November 2000. I paid careful attention to the challenges that stemmed from inadequate voting systems in various places.