Q: What are the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)?

A: The Voluntary Voting System Guidelines are a set of specifications that voting systems, voting devices and software must meet to receive a certification from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). EAC-accredited laboratories test voting systems, voting devices, and software against these guidelines.

Q: Why is the EAC updating the 2005 VVSG?

A: Comments recently submitted for a future version of the VVSG provided EAC with valuable input, some of which could be implemented immediately.  Therefore, rather than waiting to incorporate these improvements over the long-term, the EAC proposes making the improvements as soon as possible. The Commission looks forward to receiving input regarding the proposed improvements. 

Q: Do states have to follow the VVSG?

A: No. Adoption of the VVSG and participation in EAC’s voting system certification program is voluntary. It is up to each state to choose, test, certify and implement voting systems. 

Q: Do all voting systems used in federal elections have to be tested and certified by the EAC? 

A: No. According to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), participation by the states in the EAC certification program or adoption of the VVSG is voluntary. However, states may formally adopt the VVSG, making these guidelines mandatory in their jurisdictions.

Q: Do states have to use voting systems that have been certified by the EAC? 

A: No. HAVA does not require states to use voting systems that have been certified by the EAC. Although participation in the program is voluntary, adherence to the program’s procedural requirements is mandatory for participants.

Q. Will these revisions slow down the certification process by requiring all voting system manufacturers seeking EAC accreditation to re-engineer their systems?

A: No. These revisions will actually make it easier for manufacturers in our program by providing clearer guidance on the standard. The development of test suites will create greater consistency in testing both within labs and across labs. This consistency will lead to more efficient and cost effective testing.  In addition, the proposed revisions don’t require any hardware changes and only minor software changes that are relatively easy to make.

Q: What role does the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) play in helping EAC develop new revisions to the VVSG?

A:  NIST provides technical assistance to the EAC on the development of the VVSG and accreditation of voting system test labs. They also conduct research periodically on topics concerning voting system technology.

Q: What is the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) and why did they issue recommendations for the next iteration of the VVSG?

A: The TGDC assists EAC in developing the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. The chairperson of the TGDC is the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The TGDC is composed of 14 other members appointed jointly by EAC and the director of NIST.

The EAC tasked the TGDC with developing the next iteration of the guidelines. The TGDC delivered their draft recommendations for the next iteration of the VVSG on August 31, 2007. These are available on the EAC’s Web site.

Q: Did the EAC use the TGDC in the development of the 2005 VVSG revision?

A: In revising the 2005 VVSG, EAC used portions of the TGDC’s recommendations for the next iteration of the VVSG. In so doing, EAC took the hard work that the TGDC put into their recommendations and is attempting to use it to improve its program now. In addition, EAC encourages TGDC members and all members of the public to comment on the proposed revisions to the 2005 VVSG.

Q: What did you do with the thousands of comments you received on the TGDC recommended guidelines?

A: EAC staff read all of the more than 3,000 public comments received on the TGDC recommended guidelines and considered them carefully as we crafted the proposed revision to the 2005 VVSG. Some of the comments even shaped the content and wording of the proposed revisions.

Q: Would any of the revisions improve the accessibility and usability of voting systems?

A: Yes.  We revised chapter three of the 2005 VVSG to reflect many of the accessibility and usability recommendations put forward by the TGDC.

Q: There seem to be multiple versions of federal voting system standards. Can you explain the evolution of their development?

A: 2005 VVSG
The EAC issued its first set of federal voting system guidelines in 2005, known as the 2005 VVSG. They were based on a revision of an existing standard, the 2002 Voting System Standards, which was used before the EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Next iteration
After adopting the 2005 VVSG, EAC tasked the TGDC with developing the next iteration of the VVSG. The TGDC delivered its draft recommendations to the EAC in August of 2007. After receiving the TGDC’s recommendations, the EAC put them out for public comment. The public comment period ended in May 2008 with the EAC receiving more than 3000 comments.

VVSG 1.1 (proposed revision to 2005 VVSG)
Based on those comments and input from a variety of stakeholders, EAC decided to issue proposed revisions to the 2005 VVSG. The revisions of the 2005 VVSG were taken almost exclusively from the next iteration of the VVSG.