While OMB acknowledges the improvement in the quality and completeness of the survey data that EAC collected in 2008, OMB remains concerned about data quality. Since EAC is not employing statistical methods to generate survey results that are representative of the surveyed population, the 2010 UOCAVA Report to Congress should describe the limits of the survey data and include conspicuous and appropriate caveats about drawing conclusions from the data. Specifically, EAC should (1) implement basic consistency checks (rather than publish negative numbers in tables) and calculate percentages that have numerators and denominators reflecting the same responding jurisdictions and (2)
acknowledge the limitations of each conclusion in the report that cannot be supported by robust data. EAC should also identify State-reported figures (by, for example, stating that "States reported..."), distinguishing them from EAC conclusions. OMB requests that EAC share a draft of the report prior to its submission to Congress.
In addition, OMB requests that EAC coordinate with DoD to identify overlap between EAC's Election Day Survey and DoD's "Post-Election Survey of Overseas and Post-Election Survey of Local Election Officials" to avoid duplicative efforts.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
165
0
0
22,499
0
0
147,930
0
0
The proposed information collection is necessary to meet requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15301). HAVA §241 requires the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to study and report on election activities, practices, policies, and procedures, including methods of voter registration, methods of conducting provisional voting, poll worker recruitment and training, and such other matters as the Commission determines are appropriate. In addition, HAVA §802 transferred to the EAC the Federal Election CommissionÂs responsibility of biennially administering a survey on the impact of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-1 et seq.). The information the States are required to submit to the EAC for purposes of the NVRA report are found under Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations (11 CFR 8.7).
HAVA §703(a) also amended §102 the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act (UOCAVA) (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1) by requiring that Ânot later than 90 days after the date of each regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, each State and unit of local government which administered the election shall (through the State, in the case of a unit of local government) submit a report to the Election Assistance Commission (established under the Help America Vote Act of 2002) on the combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters for the election and the combined number of such ballots which were returned by such voters and cast in the election, and shall make such a report available to the general public.Â
In October 2009, the President signed into law the MOVE Act (Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2010 (PL 111-84). MOVE is intended to make it easier for absentee military troops and other overseas citizen voters to register and vote, and to help ensure that their ballots arrive in time to be counted. The MOVE Act requires state election officials to provide a number of new services, including online access to registration and ballot request forms, electronic options for blank ballot delivery, downloadable write-in ballots in case of late ballot arrival and voter status tracking services. Many of these services must be implemented by the November 2010 election. MOVE requires the EAC to report on the number of UOCAVA ballots transmitted and received.
US Code:
42 USC 1973ff-1
Name of Law: Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voters Act
US Code:
42 USC 1973gg-1 et seq.
Name of Law: National Voter Registration Act
US Code:
42 USC 15301
Name of Law: Help America Vote Act of 2002
There is no change in the number of burden hours between the 2008 and 2010 versions of the survey (147 total hours per State response; 8,085 hours total annual reporting burden).
EACÂs interest is in reducing respondent burden and maintaining as much consistency as possible in the questions asked between 2008 and 2010. As such, one new question was added to the Statutory Overview as a result of the MOVE Act. The question asks about the States processes and procedures for implementing the requirements of the MOVE Act and about capturing data related to some of those requirements.
On the quantitative portion of the survey, question A4 was changed to ask for data related only to new registrations. This reduces respondent burden since the other categories in that question were duplicative of question A5. We also added question A4b to help clarify the States Election Day Registration/Same Day Registration status, which will ensure that we are accurately capturing information about these specific groups of States. This question will not increase respondent burden, as it is a simple yes/no check-off.
Also on the quantitative portion of the survey, two questions related to the automatic transmission of ballots for two election cycles were removed. The MOVE Act eliminated States requirement to issue automatically transmitted ballots; therefore, EAC has determined that it no longer needs to ask those questions.
Question F1g was added as a sub-category to allow all vote-by-mail jurisdictions to identify themselves as such. This will not increase respondent burden, as it is merely a way to help better define the data (distinguishing between absentee and all vote-by-mail) and only applies to those jurisdictions that are all vote-by-mail.
The question wording in question F8 was slightly altered (Âmachines was changed to Âvoting systemÂ) and the question now includes a definition for Âvoting system anomaly.Â
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:
(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;
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.
Form EAC-RS01 2006 Election Administration and Voting Survey
TW - Ltr to Carey FVAP 5-05-10.pdf
2010 EDS - Supporting Statement B.doc
2006 Election Administration and Voting Survey