[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 16621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06086]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 Requirements; 
Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: United States Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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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 (301) 960-1216, 
email [email protected]; 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.
[FR Doc. 2020-06086 Filed 3-23-20; 8:45 am]
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