EAC Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots - Survey of Registered Voters

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form EAC FABP S 0001 EAC FABP Survey of Registered Voters	Form and Instruction	New	Available
FABP.Survey.Summary of Public Comments and Actions Taken.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2007-05-18	Available
FABP.Survey.Summary of Changes.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2007-05-18	Available
FABP.Survey.Supporting Statement B.pdf	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2007-05-18	Available
FABP.Survey.Supporting Statement A.pdf	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2007-05-18	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
180232	EAC FABP Survey of Registered Voters	Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3265-0009	ICR Reference No: 200705-3265-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EAC	Agency Tracking No: EAC FABP S 0001
Title: EAC Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots - Survey of Registered Voters
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 07/08/2007
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/18/2007
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2010	36 Months From Approved
Responses	1,200	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	300	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Section 246 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15301) mandates that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), in consultation with the United States Postal Service, to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a program under which the U.S. Postal Service shall waive or otherwise reduce the amount of postage applicable with respect to absentee ballots returned by voters in general elections for Federal office. This study does not address the cost to the U.S. Postal Service for free postage for sending absentee ballots but may consider costs to election officials that are related to implementing such a program including the costs of sending absentee ballots to voters. It also does not include consideration of the 39 USC 3406 provisions for the mailing of balloting materials for military and overseas absentee voters. As part of the study the Commission is directed to conduct a survey of potential beneficiaries, including the elderly and disabled, and to take into account the results of this survey in determining the feasibility and advisability of establishing such a program. HAVA §246(b)(1) requires the Commission to submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under HAVA §246(a)(1) together with recommendations for such legislative actions as the Commission determines appropriate. In addition, the report is required to contain an estimate of the costs of establishing the program described in HAVA §246(a)(1), an analysis of the feasibility of implementing such program with respect to the absentee ballots to be submitted in the general election for Federal office held in 2004, and recommendations on ways the program would target elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities and methods for increasing the number of such individuals who vote in elections for Federal office. The information for this collection will be collected through a one-time public opinion survey of 1,200 randomly selected U.S. citizens throughout the fifty U.S. States and through nine focus groups meetings designed to explore, in-depth, issues concerning the potential beneficiaries of this program. The beneficiaries include those who will be more likely to participate in federal elections should this program be implemented, including the elderly, the disabled, and the impoverished. This Information Collection Request (ICR) is only for the national survey, the focus groups are being submitted as a separate ICR for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 15301 Name of Law: Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA)
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 2875	01/23/2007
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 28037	05/18/2007
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
EAC FABP Survey of Registered Voters	EAC FABP S 0001	EAC Free Absentee Ballot Postage Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,200	0	0	1,200	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	300	0	0	300	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: New collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $40,100

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 05/18/2007

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