[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-197]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Notice of Request for Public Comment on Proposed Working Group 
Policy

AGENCY:  United States Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION:  Notice: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The EAC seeks public comment on a proposed policy entitled 
``Proposed Working Group Policy.'' This policy is designed to set 
procedures and requirements for the formation and use of working groups 
to assist the United States Election Assistance Commission in 
developing proposed policies, including advisories, guidance, opinions, 
regulations and rules regarding the implementation of the Help American 
Vote Act (HAVA) and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). 
EAC issues this notice according to a policy adopted on September 18, 
2008 that requires EAC to provide notice and an opportunity for public 
comment on, among other things, advisories being considered for 
adoption by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

DATES:  Comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on February 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted: Via e-mail at [email protected], 
Via mail addressed to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New 
York Ave., NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, or by fax at 202/566-
3127. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically and 
include ``Working Group Policy'' in the subject line, to ensure timely 
receipt and consideration.
    Person to Contact for Information: Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 
566-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is the complete text of the 
proposed Working Group Policy the EAC is seeking public comment on. The 
proposed policy may also be viewed on the EAC Web site at http://www.eac.gov.

Proposed Working Group Policy

I. Purpose

    This document sets policy concerning the use, makeup and 
administration of working groups. For the purposes of this policy, a 
working group is a collection of persons with unique experience and 
expertise gathered to provide their individual opinions on matters 
impacting EAC's mission. Working groups do not vote or otherwise 
provide a consensus opinion on matters presented. They are assembled 
either to provide individual advice on a common issue or exchange 
information. Working groups are not permanent and meet only for a 
limited purpose and time.
    The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) believes 
that seeking diverse input from qualified individuals is critical to 
developing sound public policy. As EAC works meet its mission under the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) the agency must utilize the experience 
of technical experts, election administrators and nongovernmental 
organizations in developing its policies.

II. Roles and Responsibilities

    The Executive Director is hereby directed to develop internal 
procedures concerning the use, make-up, administration and product of 
working groups. These procedures must reflect and implement the policy 
goals adopted in this directive.

III. Membership, Use and Product of Working Group

    Diversity of Opinion and Membership. The membership of EAC working 
groups shall reflect the diversity of opinion on a given issue. This 
commitment to diversity of opinion requires EAC staff to seek out new 
voices in the debate. Therefore, when reasonable, EAC will openly 
recruit candidates to be considered and may limit participation of an 
individual or organization in consecutive working groups. EAC has 
various important constituencies that should be represented on working 
groups formed under this policy. These may include state and local 
election officials, state and local legislative bodies and 
nongovernmental organizations. EAC working groups must include a fairly 
balanced membership. Members of the working group should represent a 
cross-section of the election or other communities that are directly 
affected by the topic under consideration and academics and/or 
technical experts who are uniquely qualified as appropriate to the 
nature and functions of the working group. The reasonable credibility 
of the individual and the organization represented will be considered 
in the selection process.
    Limited Use. Working groups should only be used in the development 
of EAC policy or other matters where gathering of a variety of 
technical expertise or stakeholder opinions are essential to meeting 
agency objectives. Other determining factors for the creation of a 
working group shall include EAC's strategic plan and its annual 
operating budget, goals and objectives. The creation of working groups 
shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Director. Any request 
for a working group must be submitted to the Executive Director in 
writing and identify the need for the working group, the proposed 
charge of the working group, the identification of the various opinions 
or interests that must be represented, a proposed composition of the 
group, an approximate length of time that the working group will be in 
place.
    Group Focus. Any working group established by the EAC must be 
provided a clear focus in the form of a written agenda or group 
mandate. Staff must be assigned to the group to facilitate discussion, 
maintain group focus and document opinion or facts expressed.
    Publication of Working Group Discussion Points. In reporting on the 
activities of a working group, the EAC shall capture the opinions or 
facts expressed by the working group and make that information 
available to the Commissioners and EAC program staff for use in making 
a final policy determination. This information will also be made 
available to the public.

Gracia Hillman,
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
 [FR Doc. E9-197 Filed 1-8-09; 8:45 am]
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