Election Assistance Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1727, 42 U.S.C. 15532) transferred authority to promulgate regulations under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) (Pub. L. 93- 31, 197 Stat. 77, 42 U.S.C. 1973gg-1 et. seq. at 41 U.S.C. 1973gg-7(a)) from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is presently considering the administrative transfer of NVRA regulations previously adopted and maintained by the FEC. These regulations are currently located at 11 CFR Part 8. In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), this administrative transfer of the regulations would make no substantive changes to the FEC regulations and would be made without public comment. The only changes made would be technical, such as the address and contact information for the responsible agency. Following this administrative transfer of the regulations, the EAC would begin efforts to substantively amend the rules. This rulemaking process would include substantial public involvement, including public notice and comment pursuant to the APA. The EAC currently seeks public comment on whether the agency should administratively transfer regulations previously adopted and maintained by the FEC regarding the NVRA, currently located at 11 CFR Part 8, and then substantively amend those rules. Please note that the EAC does not seek substantive comment on the content of the existing regulations or potential modifications to the regulations.

The Technical Guidelines Development Committee (the ``Development Committee'' was established to act in the public interest to assist the Executive Director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in the development of voluntary voting system guidelines. The Committee held their first plenary meeting on July 9, 2004. At this meeting, the Development Committee agreed to a resolution forming three working groups: (1) Human Factors & Privacy; (2) Security & Transparency; and (3) Core Requirements & Testing to gather and analyze information on relevant issues. These working subcommittees propose resolutions to the TGDC on best practices, specifications and standards. Specifically, NIST staff and Committee members will meet via the above scheduled teleconferences to review and discuss progress on tasks defined in resolutions passed at Development Committee plenary meetings. The resolutions define technical work tasks for NIST that will assist the Committee in developing recommendations for voluntary voting system guidelines. The Committee met in its eighth plenary session on March 22-23, 2007. Documents and transcriptions of Committee proceedings are available at: https://vote.nist.gov/ PublicHearingandMeetings.html.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has cancelled the EAC Standards Board Virtual Public Meeting scheduled for Monday, June 18, 2007, 7 a.m. EDT through Wednesday, June 20, 5 p.m. EDT. The meeting was announced in a sunshine notice that was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, May 31, 2007. PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 566-3100.

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 February 7, 2007, at 72 FR 5682. No comments were received during the 60-day public comment period; changes were made to collection instrument to improve and clarify the data being collected, including three 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.

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 9, 2007, at 72 FR 962. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. Only one comment was received on this information collection during that time period; no substantive changes were made to the information collection instrument. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's (EAC) intention to request an extension and revision of a currently approved collection. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2007, at 72 FR 3127. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received on this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until April 27, 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.

The Technical guidelines Development Committee (the ``Development Committee'') has scheduled a plenary meeting for March 22nd and 23rd, 2007. The Committee was established in 2004 to act in the public interest to assist the Executive Director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in the development of voluntary voting system guidelines. The Development Committee has held seven previous meetings. The proceedings of these plenary sessions are available at https://vote.nist.gov. The purpose of the eighth meeting of the Development Committee will be to review and approve a draft of recommendations for future voluntary voting system guidelines to the EAC. The draft recommendations respond to tasks defined in resolutions passed at the previous Technical Guideline Development Committee meetings.

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 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 summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.