UOCAVA Supporting Statement A

Supporting Statement A

OMB Control Number: xxxx-xxxx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

Survey of UOCAVA Voters

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

In 2001, operating under the National Defense Authorization Act on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) began work to fulfill a congressional directive to conduct an electronic voting demonstration for the 2002 general election. Building upon the technical foundation of the first national electronic voting pilot (the 2000 Voting Over the Internet project), FVAP designed the Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment (SERVE). SERVE was designed to assess whether electronic voting technology could be used to improve the voting participation of uniformed services members and overseas citizens, whose rights are protected by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

Section 245 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15301) requires the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to conduct a study of issues and challenges, including the potential for election fraud, that are presented by the incorporation of communications and Internet technologies in the Federal, State, and local electoral process. In delineating nine possible research topics, Congress specifically identified the need for further research in determining the requirements for authorization, collection, storing, and processing electronically generated messages permitting eligible voters to apply for an absentee ballot. At the conclusion of the study, the EAC is required to submit a report on the results of the study to Congress.

2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.

The data will be collected, coded, summarized and analyzed by an EAC Contractor. Summary data from the survey will be contextualized with qualitative data collected in case studies and presented in a report to the EAC. At the conclusion of the study, the EAC will transmit a report on the results of the study to Congress. The study, or subsections thereof, will also be publicly available upon release by the EAC.

The collection of data complies with the applicable Information Quality Guidelines in the following ways: One, the survey is timed to be conducted shortly after the General Election of 2006, when respondents' recollection of their interaction with the voting process is still at its best. Two, statistical sampling techniques will be employed to select a sample that is representative of the population being studied. Three, the survey instrument, a description of the sample, and the summary data will be made available to the public, thus replication of results within the statistical error margin will be possible. Four, the data collection, analysis and resulting reports will be completed within an eleven month time-frame, which allows for a timely distribution of results to Congress, election officials, data users, researchers and other interested parties. Five, the survey instrument is being developed by a group of highly qualified researchers, and is being beta tested after each change with a different group of volunteers. The instrument will then be sent to interested groups that have experience with the subject topic, for comments. As appropriate, these comments will be incorporated prior to a final pre-test of the survey. Six, coding documentation will be developed, and coders will be trained to ensure uniform interpretation of data during the coding process of the results. Seven, statistical analysis will include modern methods that are commonly used in social science research, including cross-tabs, frequencies and regression analysis. Eight, ongoing quality control programs are in place to assure the highest possible validity and reliability of the data.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.

The potential respondents to the survey will be contacted in the same way in which they have asked for their ballot to be transmitted to them. This means that those that ask for their ballot to be faxed will receive a faxed copy of the survey, and those that use email will receive an email invitation to complete the survey over the Internet. Respondents have the option to ask for the survey in a different medium, i.e. a fax respondent has the option to use the Internet to complete the survey, and vice versa.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

There are currently no other efforts to gather the information requested in this information collection. This information collection is unique and required by Section 245 of HAVA (42 U.S.C. 15301).

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

The collection of information does not involve small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

The EAC is asking for a one-time collection of survey responses. If the EAC does not collect this information it may be unable to comply with its statutory requirements under Section 245 of HAVA (42 U.S.C. 15301).

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

There are no special circumstances applicable to this information collection.

8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

The EAC is requesting an emergency approval to collect this information. We are requesting a waiver of the 60-day and 30-day Federal Register notices required in 5 CFR 1320.13(d) in order to ensure that we comply with the Help America Vote Act.

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payments or gifts will be provided to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

In accordance with generally used Human Subjects protocols, survey respondents will be informed that the information they provide will not be attributed to them personally, and will be compiled with the data from other respondents to construct summary data. Survey forms will not request identifying information from respondents, such as their name or address.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

No questions of a sensitive nature will be asked.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

1. Estimated number of respondents = 10,000

2. Number of responses per each respondent = 1

3. Total annual responses = 1

4. Estimated hours per response = .25 hours

5. Total annual reporting burden = 2,500 hours (# of respondents x frequency of response x hours of response)

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12 above).

Most respondents who utilize their personal computers to respond to the survey should not incur any costs additional to the monthly/yearly fees they already pay for connecting to the Internet. If respondents do not use their own personal computers but have free access to another one, there should be no cost associated with this collection. However, respondents may choose to respond to the survey from a location where they have to pay an hourly fee for use of a computer with access to the Internet; this cost will vary by location but it is estimated the time required for responding to the survey will only be a small part of the hourly fee (based on the estimated hours per response above). Respondents that chose to fax the responses may incur a cost of up to $3.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

The estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $99,176. This includes the fees associated with the development, testing, administration, analysis, and reporting of the survey and its results. This figure also includes the costs associated with printing and mailing of hard copies of the survey, and the costs for administering the survey online.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB 83-I.

Not applicable. This is a new information collection.

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.

The collected survey responses will only be published in summary data format, as part of a report. The survey data will be contextualized with data from case studies. The report will be published by the EAC on its website, and results will also be presented to Congress in a report.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.

Not applicable to this collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the

OMB 83-I.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the OMB 83-I.

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