United States 1 Election Assistance Commission 1 Inspiring Change & Modernization in Election Administration Seattle, WA June 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 2

3 The Past 3

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 4

HAVA Systems 5

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 system 6

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 Qualifying VR System UOCAVA / Ballot Delivery Voter Information/ Education Ballot Printers (re)Districting Ballot on Demand Audits Interaction of Voting and Election Systems Pollworker/ Staff Training Voter Authentication Systems

Innovation is happening 11

12 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 15

EAC Programs Testing and certification program Election day survey Management guidelines Language accessibility Grants management 16

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

18 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 19

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 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 audits 22

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 23

Language Accessibility Spanish Chinese Japanese Korean Tagalog Vietnamese 24

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 26

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!

Contact us! Matthew Masterson Commissioner INSERT PHONE NUMBER! 28