[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66321-66322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9191]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Information Collection; Study of the Feasibility and Advisability 
of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for 
Absentee Ballots--Focus Groups

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The EAC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork 
and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take 
this opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection. 
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 11, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection in writing to the U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission, 1225 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 
20005, Attn: Ms.

[[Page 66322]]

Laiza N. Otero (or via the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the Focus Group 
Discussion Guide, please, write to the above address or call Ms. Laiza 
N. Otero at (202) 566-3100. You may also view the proposed collection 
instrument by visiting our Web site at http://www.eac.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a 
Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots--Focus 
Groups
    OMB Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Needs and Uses: Sec. 246 of the Help America Vote Act requires the 
Election Assistance Commission (EAC), in consultation with the United 
States Postal Service, to conduct a study on the feasibility and 
advisability of establishing a program under which the U.S. Postal 
Service shall waive or otherwise reduce the amount of postage 
applicable with respect to absentee ballots returned by voters in 
general elections for Federal office. This study does not address the 
cost to the U.S. Postal Service for free postage for sending absentee 
ballots but may consider costs to election officials that are related 
to implementing such a program including the costs of sending absentee 
ballots to voters. It also does not include consideration of the 39 
U.S.C. 3406 provisions for the mailing of balloting materials for 
military and overseas absentee voters. As part of the study the 
Commission is directed to conduct a nationwide survey of potential 
beneficiaries, including the elderly and disabled, and to take into 
account the results of this survey in determining the feasibility and 
advisability of establishing such a program. This survey will be 
supplemented by focus groups among potential beneficiaries--elderly, 
disabled, low-income--to obtain more specific information on the 
challenges these populations face when participating in election and to 
assess the potential benefit these populations might receive from a 
program of free return or reduced postage for absentee ballots.
    At the conclusion of the study effort, EAC is required to submit a 
report to Congress with recommendations for such legislative and 
administrative action as EAC determines appropriate. The report shall 
contain an analysis of the feasibility of implementing such a program 
and an estimate of the costs. It is required to specifically contain 
recommendations regarding the elderly and disabled populations, 
including ways a free absentee ballot return postage program would 
target these populations and identify methods to increase the number of 
such individuals who vote in elections for Federal office.
    Affected Public: Citizens.
    Number of Respondents: 36.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden per Response: 1.25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 45 hours.
    Information will be collected through a series of three focus 
groups comprised of potential beneficiaries of a free and/or discounted 
absentee ballot postage program: One focus group will be dedicated to 
issues confronting the elderly population; one focus group will be 
dedicated to issues confronting disabled people; and one focus group 
will be dedicated to issues confronting the low-income citizens. At 
least one official from the United States Postal Service will observe 
each planned focus group. The topics that will be explored include:
    1. The challenges that the particular population faces when 
participating in elections.
    a. Information on respondents' previous experiences with voting in 
Federal elections. Information on any difficulties encountered in the 
process of voting and how the issues were resolved.
    2. The concerns members of the particular population have about 
voting (e.g. voter intimidation, voter confidentiality, security, use 
of ballots).
    a. Information on particular incidents that has prevented 
respondent from being able to vote.
    3. The possible remedies to those challenges that would likely 
increase the rates of voter participation in the particular population 
(e.g. relaxed absentee voting laws, better accessibility to polling 
places, voter education).
    a. Information on respondents' interest in absentee ballot voting.
    4. The likelihood that a free or discounted absentee ballot postage 
program would assist the particular population.
    a. Information on respondents' interest in a program of free or 
discounted postage for absentee ballots.
    5. How the program could possibly be implemented to target the 
particular population.
    a. Information on creating and implementing the program to ensure 
that it benefits the particular population.
    6. The factors that would make reaching the particular population 
difficult.
    a. Information on advertising such a program to the particular 
population so that they can take advantage of the change.

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 06-9191 Filed 11-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-M