U.S. Election Assistance Commission Voluntary Voting System Testing and Certification Program Manual

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form EAC 003C Field Anomaly Reporting Form and Instruction	New
Form EAC 002C Collection of Information and Record Keeping for Certified Voting System Form and Instruction	New
Form EAC 001C Collection of Voting System Manufacturer Information Form and Instruction	New
Voting System Testing and Certification Program -- consolidated 3b.doc Supplementary Document	2006-09-22
Supporting Statement.doc Supporting Statement A	2006-09-22

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
45347	Field Anomaly Reporting Form and Instruction	New
45346	Collection of Information and Record Keeping for Certified Voting System Form and Instruction	New
45345	Collection of Voting System Manufacturer Information Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3265-0004	ICR Reference No: 200609-3265-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EAC	Agency Tracking No:
Title: U.S. Election Assistance Commission Voluntary Voting System Testing and Certification Program Manual
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 11/30/2006
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 09/29/2006
	Date Received in OIRA: 09/22/2006
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2007	6 Months From Approved
Responses	96	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	117	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	4,850	0	0

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Abstract: HAVA requires that the EAC certify and decertify voting systems (42 U.S.C. §15371). Section 231(a)(1) of HAVA specifically requires the EAC to “… provide for the certification, de-certification and re-certification of voting system hardware and software by accredited laboratories.” The EAC will perform this mandated function through the use of its Voting System Testing and Certification Program. Voting systems certified by the EAC will be used by citizens to cast votes in Federal Elections. Therefore, it is paramount that the program operates in a reliable and affective manner. In order to certify a voting system, it is necessary for the EAC to (1) require voting system manufacturers to submit information about their organization and the voting systems they submit for testing and certification; (2) require voting system manufacturers to retain voting system technical and test records; and (3) to provide a mechanism for election officials to report events which may effect a voting system’s certification.

Emergency Justfication: HAVA requires that the EAC certify and decertify voting systems (42 U.S.C. §15371). Section 231(a)(1) of HAVA specifically requires the EAC to “… provide for the certification, de-certification and re-certification of voting system hardware and software by accredited laboratories.” The EAC will perform this mandated function through the use of its Voting System Testing and Certification Program. Voting systems certified by the EAC will be used by citizens to cast votes in Federal Elections. Therefore, it is paramount that the program operates in a reliable and affective manner. In order to certify a voting system, it is necessary for the EAC to (1) require voting system manufacturers to submit information about their organization and the voting systems they submit for testing and certification; (2) require voting system manufacturers to retain voting system technical and test records; and (3) to provide a mechanism for election officials and other members of the public to report events which may effect a voting system’s certification. The EAC is requesting an emergency review of the information collection referenced below. In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following requirements for emergency review. The EAC is requesting an emergency review because the collection of this information is needed before the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320(a)(2)(ii). The information collection at issue is necessary in order to provide for the certification of voting systems as mandated by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. §15371). The EAC cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because failure to implement this program in an expedited fashion is reasonably likely to result in a public harm, as stated in 5 CFR 1320.13(a)(2)(i). Approval of this emergency collection is essential in order to comply with Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. §15371). HAVA requires that the EAC certify and decertify voting systems. This mandate represents the first time the Federal government will provide for the voluntary testing and certification of voting systems, nationwide. In response to this HAVA requirement, the EAC is developing the Voting System Testing and Certification Program. This program requires the collection and retention of information by voting system manufacturers. Until recently, national voting system certification was conducted by a private membership organization, the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED). NASED certified voting systems for over a decade, using standards issued by the Federal government. The organization terminated its certification efforts on July 10, 2006. While the EAC and NASED have worked together to provide for the certification of emergency modifications necessary to properly field voting systems for the 2006 General Election, there is presently no mechanism in place to test and certify new systems or to process modifications for the 2008 Federal elections. Given the fact that (1) it can take years to develop, test, certify, sell, and field a new or modified voting systems; and (2) a large volume of voting systems (new, existing and modified) are expected to be submitted to the EAC upon initiation of the new Certification Program, it is imperative that the EAC’s Voting System Testing and Certification Program begin on the earliest possible date. The 2008 Federal elections are less than 2 years away. Ensuring that certified voting systems are available for the 2008 Election Cycle is essential to the public welfare.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 15371 Name of Law: Help America Vote Act of 2002
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Collection of Information and Record Keeping for Certified Voting System	EAC 002C	Application for Voting System Testing
Field Anomaly Reporting	EAC 003C	Voting System Anomaly Reporting Form
Collection of Voting System Manufacturer Information	EAC 001C	Manufacturer Registration Application

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	96	0	0	96	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	117	0	0	117	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	4,850	0	0	4,850	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is the first time this information collection, or the program upon which it is based, has been performed by the Federal government.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $902,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 09/22/2006

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