[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 962-963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-27]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Information Collection Activity; Study of Alternative Voting 
Methods

AGENCY: 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

[[Page 963]]

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 summarizeed 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 March 9, 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. 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 survey, 
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 Alternative Voting Methods.
    OMB Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Needs and Uses: Section 241 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 
requires the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to periodically 
study election administration issues with the goal of promoting voting 
methods and improving election administration. Section 241(b)(10) 
instructs the EAC to study the feasibility and advisability of 
conducting elections for Federal office on different days, at different 
places, and during different hours. In addition, it recommends the 
study include a discussion of the advisability of establishing a 
uniform poll closing time and establishing:
    (A) A legal public holiday under section 6103 of title 5 United 
States Code, as the date on which general elections for Federal office 
are held;
    (B) The Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November, in every even 
numbered year, as a legal public holiday under such section;
    (C) A date other than the Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in 
November, in every even numbered year as the date on which general 
elections for Federal office are held; and
    (D) Any date described in subparagraph (C) as a legal public 
holiday under such section.
    To provide information to the States and the Congress on the 
feasibility and advisability of using alternative days, times, and 
places to conduct Federal elections, the EAC seeks to survey voters to 
better understand their motivations and perceptions of impediments to 
voting. The survey will provide insights into the public's perceptions 
of particular aspects of the voting process.
    Affected Public: Citizens.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden per Response: .25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 750 hours.
    Frequency: One time collection.
    Information will be collected through a statistically valid survey 
of 3,000 registered voters to determine how they currently respond to 
alternative voting methods (if in a State that offers them) or would 
respond to alternative voting methods (if in a State that does not 
allow them). The survey will be representative of the 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The topics that will be 
explored include, but are not limited to:
    a. Voting by mail
    b. Voting at a consolidated polling center
    c. Voting online
    d. Voting earlier/later on Election Day
    e. Voting on weekend day
    f. Voting on day other than first Tuesday in November
    g. Making the day on which Federal elections are held a Federal 
holiday
    h. No alternative voting method, prefer status quo
    The survey will gather data regarding each respondent's background. 
Background information will include, but is not limited to, (1) 
Respondents' voter registration history, (2) respondents' voting 
history, and (3) standard demographic questions covering (age, 
ethnicity, education, employment status, and income bracket).

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 07-27 Filed 1-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-M