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United States
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Election Assistance Commission
www.eac.gov 1
Inspiring Change & Modernization in Election Administration
Seattle, WAJune 10, 2015
About the EAC
• Created in the aftermath of 2000 Election• Bipartisan Agency (2Ds/2Rs)• Had been without a quorum for 4 years• We are back and running!• Tasked with:
– Testing and Certification– Election Day Survey– Best Practices and Guidance
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The Past
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Features of the Past
• Largely logistical in nature• Stable but not flexible• Election officials were largely process
managers/accountants• Simple & easy to understand for most• Questions around voter intent and definition
of a vote• Limited accessibility/usability
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HAVA Systems
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Features of HAVA Systems
• Equipment is more complex• Monolithic voting system with custom
hardware• Process has gone from largely logistical to
IT used to manage the logistics• Increased efficiencies with technology• Increased access/usability• Ability to innovate around the voting
system6
The future is now!
• Stating the Obvious: The equipment is old!• PCEA called out the oncoming “voting
system crisis”• Voters expect voting to look like their lives
– People with regular internet access has doubled– People with access to cell phones has gone
from 68% to over 90%– iPhone offered 3 years AFTER purchase of
most equipment
Innovation is Happening• Modernizing in other areas of elections:
– Ballot delivery systems– COTS based systems– Online registration– Ballot-on-demand– Election night reporting– Electronic Pollbooks
• States looking at how to evaluate emerging tech– EAC does not test and certify– E-pollbook requirements/RFP’s
Capture
Voting System
Tabulation
Voter
Ballot Marking System
Administrative Reports
Election Night Reporting
E-pollbooks
Candidate QualifyingVR System
UOCAVA /Ballot Delivery
Voter Information/Education
Ballot Printers
(re)Districting
Ballot on Demand
Audits
Interaction of Voting and Election Systems
Pollworker/StaffTraining
Voter Authentication Systems
Innovation is happening
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Innovation is happening
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Features of the future?
• Flexible configurable systems• Data compatibility & sharing• Greater demand on election officials as
integrator• Greater focus on the voting experience• Universal design for accessibility• Increased security built in to system• Increased auditability• Sustainable 14
What does this mean?
• More and more election officials are being asked to be IT managers:– Manage co-dependent IT systems– Analyze Risk– Evaluate current and future systems for
application to operation– Educate on challenges and needs– Manage and protect the data within the systems– Every election is a pilot
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EAC Programs
• Testing and certification program• Election day survey• Management guidelines• Language accessibility• Grants management
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EAC Testing & Certification
• Voluntary Program– States pick and choose how they use the program– 47 of 50 states use some aspect of the program– Colorado requires testing by an accredited lab
• Test and certify voting systems to set of requirements– Idea is provide a baseline of performance– Currently considering updates to the standards
and program
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Voting System Certification
EAC Certification
State Certification
Local Testing
Federal Certification
• How does it work?– Systems tested to comprehensive set of
standards• Usability/Accessibility• Security• Functionality
– Systems MUST meet all requirements– Purpose is to provide a baseline of functionality
so states and locals can test to their needs
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EAC Testing & Certification
• More than just a sticker– Unique knowledge of the systems– Work with state & local officials
to:• Monitor Performance• Maintain aging equipment• Develop RFP’s ([email protected])• Share info regarding issues in the
field
EAC Moving Forward
– Modernize the program to encourage innovation instead of stifle it through overly prescriptive standards
– Recognize that in order for the program to work it must operate at election speed.
– Keep the requirements simple and understandable so all stakeholders are invested in the process
– Keep the testing process affordable so the costs aren’t passed down to you
– Working to develop a common data format
State/Local Testing
• Many states test to state specific set of requirements for certification
• RFP requirements serve as another important set of requirements
• Acceptance Testing = local election official certification
• Logic & Accuracy testing also important information loop
• Post election audits22
Election Day Survey
• Most comprehensive set of data available
• This data is critical:– Benchmarking– Budgeting/Justification
• We must do better:– Easier to complete– Easier to digest– IEEE data format
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Language Accessibility
• Spanish• Chinese• Japanese• Korean• Tagalog• Vietnamese
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Election Official Resources
Final Thoughts
• Look at the systems and operation with a critical eye– What are your goals and can technology help? – What do you want systems to do? – What shouldn’t they do?
• Think like an IT manager!• Understand your role in evaluation process
and be active
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Thank you!
• We need to hear from you!– What areas do you need help or resources?– What are your best practices or innovations?
• EAC Standards Board/TGDC – Stuart Holmes– Kristina Swanson– Lori Augino
• Thank you for all that you do!
