[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 96 (Friday, May 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28037-28038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2465]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Information Collection Activity; Survey of Registered Voters--
Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a Program of 
Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has submitted the 
following information collection request to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2007, at 72 
FR 2875. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. Only 
one comment was received on this information collection during that 
time period, and changes were made to the collection instrument to 
improve and clarify the data being collected,

[[Page 28038]]

including six new questions. The purpose of this notice is to allow an 
additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and 
will be accepted until June 18, 2007. This process is conducted in 
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. 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; 
(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, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection should be sent to:
    OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 
395-7316.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please, write to the above address 
or call Ms. Karen Lynn-Dyson at (202) 566-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Study of the Feasibility and 
Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced 
Postage for Absentee Ballots--Survey of Registered Voters.
    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 of 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 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. 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.
    Affected Public: U.S. Citizens.
    Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden per Response: .25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300 hours.
    Information will be collected through a survey of U.S. citizens to 
determine the possible effect that a free and/or reduced cost absentee 
ballot postage program would have on voter participation. The sample 
will be designed in such a way so as to afford analysis of the results 
according to significant sub-groups including those living in states 
with high versus low rates of absentee voting and states with 
restrictive versus states with laws favoring absentee voting. The 
surveys will be representative of the U.S. population in the fifty U.S. 
states and will be conducted by phone using random digit dialing (RDD) 
technology. Within each contacted household, a respondent will be 
selected among all adults in the household aged 18 years and older. The 
following information will be requested from each respondent.

1. Background Information

    The survey will gather data regarding each respondent's background. 
Background information will include, the respondent's location, the 
location of the respondent's voter registration, age, ethnicity, 
education, income bracket, whether the respondent is living with a 
disability, and whether the respondent is currently an active-duty 
member of the armed forces (or a dependent thereof).

2. Voting Information

    The survey will gather data regarding the respondent's voting 
history. Voting information will include, registration status, whether 
the respondent voted in the 2006 Congressional election, whether the 
respondent voted in the 2004 Presidential election, whether the 
respondent voted in the 2000 Presidential election, the method the 
respondent voted in past elections (in person, by mail, absentee), 
whether the respondent is eligible to vote absentee (or whether the 
respondent does not know).

3. Program Effect

    The survey will gather data from all respondents regarding the 
various effects that the establishment of this program would have on 
the targeted citizens. Questions on the program will cover (1) Whether 
the program will increase the likelihood that the respondent would use 
the absentee ballot process; (2) whether the program will increase the 
likelihood that the respondent would vote in a federal election; (3) 
whether the program will make it easier for the voter to participate in 
elections.

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 07-2465 Filed 5-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-M