For Immediate Release
July 24, 2003
Contact: Chip Gavin
207-626-8408/441-4602

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Top state election officials arrive in Portland
to prepare for 2004 presidential election cycle
Maine Secretary of State Dan Gwadisly is NASS president, host

PORTLAND, ME - The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) will hold its annual summer meeting in Portland, Maine, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay from July 25-28, 2003.

The conference is expected to attract more than 300 participants, guests and speakers, including more than 35 Secretaries of State, and to inject more than $0.5 million into the Maine economy. Among those scheduled to address the conference are Seeds of Peace President Aaron David Miller, Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH) and Governor John Baldacci.

"We're expecting a great event that will benefit the participants as well as Maine's economy," said Maine Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky, president of NASS and host of the conference.

As the association representing the nation's top election officials, this year's meeting agenda will focus heavily on the 2004 presidential election cycle and the implementation of the new federal election reform bill, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), as well as on emerging eGovernment services and trends.

"We're always working to strengthen our nation's democracy," said Gwadosky. "There is much to do as we gear up for the next presidential election cycle."

Highlights of the conference will include:

Saturday, July 26:
ü Pushing the Envelope: The Most Exciting Trends in e-Government (11 a.m.-noon)
ü Presentation by Seeds of Peace President Aaron David Miller (noon-1:15 p.m.)

Sunday, July 27:
ü Voter Participation Workshop (10:15 a.m.-noon)
ü Announcement of the NASS Margaret Chase Smith award winner and the presentation of the NASS Freedom Award to Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) (noon-1:15 p.m.)
ü 2004 & Beyond: Presidential Primary Reform (1:30-2:15 p.m.)
ü Campaign Finance Issues Forum (2:15-3 p.m.)
ü Homeland Security Activity in the States (2:15-3 p.m.)

Monday, July 28:
ü Election Reform & Online Voting Pilots Project in the U.K. (9-10 a.m.)
ü Election Reform Updates from Capitol Hill (10:45 a.m.-noon)
ü Luncheon with Maine Governor John Baldacci (noon-1:30 p.m.)

NASS SECURITY POLICY: Reporters must wear credential badges at all times for admittance to meetings. To obtain credentials, contact Chip Gavin at 207.626.8408 or 207.441.4602. A full conference agenda is available online at www.nass.org.

The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation's oldest non-partisan government association, representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands.