EAC - Focus Groups - Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form FABP LI 001 EAC Free Absentee Focus Groups Form and Instruction	New
FABP.Summary of Public Comments and Actions Taken.pdf Supplementary Document	2007-05-18
FABP.Focus Groups.Supporting Statement A.pdf Supporting Statement A	2007-05-18

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
180237	EAC Free Absentee Focus Groups Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3265-0008	ICR Reference No: 200705-3265-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EAC	Agency Tracking No: EAC FABP FG 0001
Title: EAC - Focus Groups - Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee Ballots
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	108	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	135	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 focus groups, the national voter survey is 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:
	71 FR 66311	11/14/2006
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 28036	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 Free Absentee Focus Groups	FABP D 001, FABP SC 001, FABP PR 001, FABP LI 001	Discussion Guide for Voters with Low Income Focus Group ,   Discussion Guide for People with Disabilities ,   Discussion Guide for Senior Citizens ,   Recruitment Form

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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	108	0	0	108	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	135	0	0	135	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: $46,940

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

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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