2020-06086. Proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 Requirements; Request for Public Comment

AGENCY:

United States Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION:

Notice; request for public comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is publishing the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG 2.0) Requirements for public comment. Aligned with the VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines, the VVSG 2.0 Requirements represent the requirements to which a voting system is tested to obtain certification under the EAC Testing and Certification Program.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. EST on June 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Submission of Comments: Comments on the proposed VVSG 2.0 should be submitted electronically via https://www.regulations.gov (docket ID: EAC-2020-0002). Written comments on the proposed information collection can also be sent to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1335 East West Highway, Suite 4300, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: Testing & Certification.

Obtaining a copy of VVSG 2.0: To obtain a copy of the draft VVSG 2.0 Requirements (1) Download a copy at https://www.regulations.gov (docket ID: EAC-2020-0002); or (2) write to the EAC (including your address and phone number) at U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1335 East West Highway, Suite 4300, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: Testing & Certification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerome Lovato, Phone [phone], email [e-mail]; U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1335 East West Highway, Suite 4300, Silver Spring, MD 20910

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The EAC is placing the proposed VVSG 2.0 Requirements as submitted by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) out for a 90-day public comment period. The EAC is asking for comments regarding all sections of the VVSG 2.0 Requirements.

The EAC made the decision to undertake the drafting of VVSG 2.0 as a result of feedback received over several years from a variety of stakeholders including, state and local election officials, voting system manufacturers, and usability, accessibility and security interest groups.

The TGDC proposed a different structure for developing the VVSG 2.0 than in previous years. This structure differs significantly from previous versions of the VVSG because the VVSG 2.0 Requirements are presented in a separate document from the VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines. The VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines are high-level system design goals and a broad description of the functions that make up a voting system. The EAC sought public comments on the VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines from February 28, 2019 to June 7, 2019. Aligned with the VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines, the VVSG 2.0 Requirements represent the requirements to which a voting system is tested to obtain certification under the EAC Testing and Certification Program.

The TGDC unanimously approved to recommend VVSG 2.0 Requirements on February 7, 2020, and sent the Requirements to the EAC Acting Executive Director via the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in the capacity of the Chair of the TGDC on February 28, 2020. Upon adoption, the VVSG 2.0 would become the fifth iteration of national level voting system standards. The Federal Election Commission published the first two sets of federal standards in 1990 and 2002. The EAC then adopted Version 1.0 of the VVSG on December 13, 2005. In an effort to update and improve version 1.0 of the VVSG, on March 31, 2015, the EAC commissioners unanimously approved VVSG 1.1.

Amanda Joiner,

Associate Counsel, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.