Form 1 2020 EAVS for Final OMB Submission

2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey

2020_EAVS_DRAFT_v11 for final OMB submission

2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey

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U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION (EAC)
2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)
The ongoing process of improving America’s election systems relies in part on having accurate data
about the way Americans cast their ballots. In 2002, Congress chartered the U.S. Election Assistance
Commission (EAC) to collect information on the state of American elections and make it widely
available to policymakers, advocates, scholars, journalists and the general public. Since 2004, the
Commission has sponsored a biennial survey as its primary tool for fulfilling that mission. We are
pleased to present the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), and we ask for your
help in making it the most complete and accurate survey in its history.
The questions below ask for information about ballots cast, voter registration, overseas and military
voting, Election Day activities, voting technology, and other important issues.
The section concerning the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act (UOCAVA) serves as the
EAC’s standardized format for state reporting of UOCAVA voting information as required by 52
U.S.C. §20302. States that complete and timely submit this section to the EAC will fulfill their
UOCAVA reporting requirement under 52 U.S.C. §20302(c).
Additionally, EAC is mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to collect information
from states concerning the impact of that statute on the administration of federal elections. With
this information, EAC is required to make a report to Congress and provide recommendations for
the improvement of federal and state procedures, forms, and other NVRA matters. States that
respond in a timely manner to all questions in this survey concerning voter registration-related
matters will meet their NVRA reporting requirements under 52 U.S.C. § 20508 and EAC
regulations.
The EAC recognizes the burden that asking for these data places on state and local election officials,
and we have worked to minimize that burden as much as possible. In advance, we thank you for your
cooperation and look forward to answering any questions you might have.
Information supplied by:
Name

Title

Office/Agency Name
Address 1
Address 2
City
Email Address
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State

Zip Code
Telephone
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Table of Contents
Instructions for Completing the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey ................................1
Section A: Voter Registration .................................................................................................................. 2
Total Registrations: Questions A1 and A2 .............................................................................................. 2
A1. Total Number Registered and Eligible Persons, Active and Inactive.......................................... 3
A2. Same Day Voter Registration ........................................................................................................ 4
Registration Forms Processed: Questions A3–A7 ................................................................................. 4
A3. Total Registration Forms Processed: 2018 to 2020................................................................... 4
A4–A7. Total Registration Forms Processed, by Source ................................................................... 6
Confirmation of Registration Notices and Removals: Questions A8 and A9........................................ 8
A8. Total Confirmation of Registration Notices Sent to Voters ......................................................... 8
A9. Total Voters Removed from Registration Rolls: 2018 to 2020 ............................................... 10
Section B: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)..................................... 11
UOCAVA Voters Registered and Eligible: Question B1 ........................................................................ 12
B1. Total Registered and Eligible UOCAVA Voters ........................................................................... 13
FPCAs Received, Accepted, and Rejected: Questions B2–B4 ........................................................... 14
B2. Federal Post Card Applications Received ................................................................................. 14
B3. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected.................................................................................. 15
B4. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected Because Late .......................................................... 15
UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted: Questions B5–B8 ................................................................................ 16
B5–B8. UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted to Voters .............................................................................. 16
UOCAVA Ballots Returned: Questions B9–B13 ................................................................................... 17
B9–B12. Transmitted Ballots Returned by Voters: Postal Mail, Email, Other .............................. 17
B13: Ballots Returned Undeliverable .............................................................................................. 18
UOCAVA Ballots Counted: Questions B14–B17 .................................................................................. 19
B14–B17. Transmitted Ballots Counted: Postal Mail, Email, Other .............................................. 19
UOCAVA Ballots Rejected: Questions B18–B22 ................................................................................. 20
B18–22. Total Number of UOCAVA Ballots Rejected and Reasons for Rejection ........................ 20
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots: Questions B23–B27 ................................................................... 21
B23–B27. Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots Received, Counted, and Rejected......................... 21
Section C: Domestic Civilian By-Mail Voting ........................................................................................ 22
Transmitted Civilian By-Mail Ballots: Questions C1–C2 ..................................................................... 22
C1. Total By-Mail Ballots Transmitted .............................................................................................. 23
C2. Ballots Sent to Permanent By-Mail Voters ................................................................................ 24
Returned and Rejected Ballots: Questions C3–C4............................................................................. 24
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C3. Total Number of By-Mail Ballots Returned and Counted ......................................................... 24
C4. Number of By-Mail Ballots Rejected, by Reason Rejected ...................................................... 25
Section D: In-Person Voting and Polling Operations............................................................................ 26
Total In-Person Voting: Question D1 .................................................................................................... 26
D1. Total In-Person Voting ................................................................................................................ 26
Precincts and Polling Places: Questions D2–D4 ................................................................................ 27
D2. Total Number of Precincts ......................................................................................................... 27
Poll Workers: Questions D5–D7 .......................................................................................................... 28
D5–D6. Total Number of Poll Workers ............................................................................................ 28
D7. Age of Poll Workers .................................................................................................................... 29
D8. Ease of Recruiting Poll Workers ................................................................................................ 29
Section E: Provisional Ballots .............................................................................................................. 30
Provisional Ballots Submitted and Rejected: Questions E1 and E2 .................................................. 31
E1. Total Provisional Ballots Submitted and Adjudication ............................................................. 31
E2. Reasons Provisional Ballots Rejected ....................................................................................... 32
Section F: Voter Participation and Election Technologies ................................................................... 33
Questions F1 and F2 ............................................................................................................................ 33
F1. Total Participation in the 2020 Election ................................................................................... 34
F2. Source of Data on Total Participation in the 2020 Election .................................................... 35
Poll Books: Questions F3–F4 ............................................................................................................... 36
F3–F4. Use of Electronic and Paper Poll Books ............................................................................. 36
Voting Technologies: Questions F5–F11 ............................................................................................. 37
F5–F11. Voting Equipment Used ..................................................................................................... 37
Location of Vote Tally: Question F12 ................................................................................................... 40
F12. Location for Where Votes are Tallied ...................................................................................... 40
F13. General Comments .................................................................................................................. 41

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Instructions for Completing the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey
1. This survey collects information on election administration issues in local election offices that are
responsible for the administration of the November 2020 general election. All data should be
reported at the level of the local jurisdiction. However, the state- or territorial-level election office
may fill out any or all of the information on behalf of the local election offices under its
jurisdiction.
2. You will find it helpful to read an entire section before answering any of the questions in that
section.
3. Do not leave items blank—always provide an answer to the question asked. If needed, use the
“Data not available,” “Does not apply,” or “Other” categories discussed below. Please use the
comment boxes as needed to provide us with additional information regarding how you
answered the questions, including any explanations about the quality of the data you are
providing. This will help us analyze and present the data more accurately. Your explanations do
not need to be detailed or lengthy; we can contact you for further information if needed.
4. Please attempt to record data according to the categories as they are defined in the question. If
your jurisdiction uses a different data classification scheme (for instance, your jurisdiction
collects data in such a way that combines two or more categories listed in a question), then you
can use the space provided for “Other” to provide numbers and details on these categories. If
you report information in the “Other” field, please use the comment boxes to provide an
explanation for the answer.

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Section A: Voter Registration
The goal of Section A is to understand the ways in which individuals registered to vote in each
jurisdiction between 2018 and 2020, and the efforts made to remove individuals who should no
longer be registered.
This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:
1. How many individuals were registered to vote for the 2020 general election?
2. How many voter registration forms were processed from the close of registration for the
2018 general election through the close of registration for the 2020 general election?
3. How many confirmations of registration notifications did your jurisdiction send to registered
voters from the close of registration for the 2018 general election through the close of
registration for the 2020 general election?
4. How many registered voters were removed from the voter registration rolls from the close of
registration for the 2018 general election through the close of registration for the 2020
general election?
EAC is mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to collect information from states
concerning the impact of that statute on the administration of federal elections. With this
information EAC is required to make a report to Congress and provide recommendations for the
improvement of federal and state procedures, forms, and other NVRA matters. States that
respond in a timely manner to all questions in this survey concerning voter registration-related
matters will meet their NVRA reporting requirements under 52 U.S.C. § 20508 and EAC
regulations.

Total Registrations: Questions A1 and A2
Questions A1 and A2 ask about individuals who were registered and eligible to vote in the 2020
general election. This includes all individuals who were registered to vote and included on the final
voter registration rolls for the election. For states with Election Day voter registration, include all
individuals who registered to vote through the close of the polls on Election Day.
Please DO NOT include:
•
•

Individuals who registered to vote after the close of registration for the 2020 general election
and were not be eligible to vote in the election, or
Persons under the age of 18 registered under a pre-registration program.

If your jurisdiction’s number includes any special groups or situations that we should be aware of,
please use the A1 Comments box to explain.

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Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section A.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does
not have inactive voters —please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to question A1c.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have inactive voters but
your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as the
response to the question.

A1. Total Number Registered and Eligible Persons, Active and Inactive
For question A1, report the total number of people (not votes or ballots) who were registered and
eligible to vote in the November 2020 general election. If your jurisdiction differentiates between
active and inactive voters, report the number of active voters in A1b and inactive voters in A1c. If
your state does not make this differentiation, report your total number of registered voters again in
A1b and enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to A1c. The sum of active voters in A1b and inactive
voters in A1c should equal the total number of registered voters reported in A1a.
Type of Registered Voter

Total

A1a. TOTAL number of registered and eligible voters:
Do not include any persons under the age of 18 who may be registered
under a pre-registration program or registered after the 2020 deadline for
registration.
A1b. TOTAL number of active voters:
Fully eligible voters who have no additional processing requirements to
fulfill before voting.
A1c. TOTAL number of inactive voters:
Voters who remain eligible to vote but require address verification under
the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act.
A1 Comments:

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A2. Same Day Voter Registration
For question A2, report the number of individuals who utilized same day voter registration for the
2020 general election. This question includes jurisdictions in states that have formal Election Day
registration or same day registration and those states that have other situations that provide
Election Day registration or same day registration. This question also includes jurisdictions in states
that permit Election Day registration for voting for office of President, such as Alaska and Rhode
Island. Note that this question is about registration forms, and not ballots cast or votes.
If your state’s laws allowed any voters to register and then vote on the same day—including same day
registration occurring because of an overlap between early voting and the close of voter
registration—report the total number of registration forms received on those days in which it was
possible to both register for and vote in the November 2020 general election on the same day in
A2a. For questions A2b and A2c, separate the total number of same day registrations that was
reported in A2a into those received on Election Day and those received prior to Election Day. These
amounts should sum to the total provided in A2a. If you are unable to distinguish between these
categories or are unable to provide this breakdown, complete A2a and enter -99 (negative 99, or
data not available) for A2b-A2c. If data is reported in A2b and A2c, the sum of these two items
should equal the total number of same day registrations reported in A2a.
Type of Same Day Registration

Total

A2a. TOTAL same day registrations received
A2b. Same-day registrations received on Election Day
A2c. Same-day registrations received prior to Election Day (e.g., during
early voting)
A2 Comments:

Registration Forms Processed: Questions A3–A7
These questions ask about the number of registration forms processed in your jurisdiction from the
close of registration for the November 2018 general election through the close of registration for the
November 2020 general election. For example, a state with a voter registration deadline of 15 days
before Election Day should include all forms received 14 days before the 2018 Election Day through
15 days before the 2020 Election Day. In states with same day voter registration or Election Day
registration, all registrations received after the close of the polls on Election Day in 2018 until the
close of the polls on Election Day 2020 should be included in your answers.
A3. Total Registration Forms Processed: 2018 to 2020
For question A3a, report the total number of forms your jurisdiction received from all sources during
the period from the close of registration for the November 2018 general election until the close of
registration for the November 2020 general election. Include any forms that were processed, such
as changes to name, party or address, duplicates, or pre-registrations. If applicable, also include
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here any Election Day or same day registrations and any registrations from special categories of
voters who may have extended voter registration deadlines, such as returning military personnel.
Then, divide the total number of forms received (A3a) into the categories listed in A3b through A3g.
Use item A3h for any registration forms that cannot be placed into any of the categories specified in
A3b through A3g.
Registrations from Election Day and special category voters should be included in the appropriate
category (e.g., new valid registration or change of name).
Type of Registration Form Received

Total

A3a. TOTAL registration forms received:
All registration forms received between the close of registration for the
November 2018 general election and the close of registration for the
November 2020 general election.
A3b. New valid registrations (excluding pre-registrations of persons under
18):
All successful registrations that were not invalidated or rejected and did
not duplicate or modify a previously existing registration in the jurisdiction.
A3c. New pre-registrations of persons under age 18:
All registrations submitted by persons under the age of 18 years so that
they will be registered when they become of voting age.
A3d. Duplicates of existing valid registrations:
Applications to register to vote submitted by persons already registered to
vote at the same address, under the same name and personal information
(e.g., date of birth, social security number, driver’s license), and the same
political party (where applicable).
A3e. Invalid or rejected (other than duplicates):
Registrations that did not meet the requirements of eligibility because they
were not completed properly or the individual was excluded from being
able to register in a jurisdiction.
A3f. Changes to name, party, or within-jurisdiction address change:
Registrations that modified or edited voter information for individuals with
current valid registrations.
A3g. Address changes that cross jurisdiction borders:
Registrations that modified or edited the address of persons with current
valid registrations, where the address change places them in a different
jurisdiction (such as a different county) from their current registration.
A3h. Other:
A3i. Other:
A3j. Other:
A3 Comments:
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A4–A7. Total Registration Forms Processed, by Source
For question A4, divide the total number of voter registration forms reported in question A3a
according to source of the form. Then, for each source, divide the forms into the categories of new
registrations (A5), duplicates of an existing registration (A6), and invalid or rejected registrations
(A7).
Questions A6 and A7 are mutually exclusive—duplicate registrations included in A6 should not be
included as invalid or rejected registrations in A7, and vice versa.
For items a–l, it is important to focus on the mode used to submit the registration application. These
modes are intended to be mutually exclusive. For example, if the voter submits a registration form
online using the state’s online voter registration portal, this is an online voter registration and the
total number received would be put in A4c. This would be considered an online voter registration
even if the voter accessed the online voter registration system at a state public assistance office or
at the office of an agency that primarily serves individuals with disabilities. In addition, it does not
matter which agency hosts the voter registration system. For example, if your state motor vehicle
office hosts the online voter registration system, then applications using the system are still online
voter registration applications, not an application from the motor vehicle office.
For A4c—A7c (registrations submitted via the internet), only include registration forms that were
completed and submitted through a web-based online voter registration system. A form that was
filled out online but submitted via email or printed and submitted via mail should be included under
A4a, A5a, A6a or A7a in row a—“Individual voters submitting applications by mail, fax, or email.”
Same-day registrations should be categorized according to the mode used to submit the registration
application. For example, if a voter submits a same-day registration form at an election/registrar’s
office, this would be considered an individual voter registering in person at the election/registrar’s
office and would be put in A4b. If a voter submits a same-day registration form at a polling place, this
would be considered a separate category and should be entered under “other” in either A7j, A7k, or
A7l.
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A4a through A4l: Divide the total number of all registration forms received (as reported in A3a) into the following sources.
A5a through A5l: Divide the total number of new registration forms received (as reported in A3b) into the following sources.
A6a through A6l: Divide the total number of duplicate registration forms received (as reported in A3d) into the following sources.
A7a through A7l: Divide the total number of invalid or rejected registration forms (as reported in A3e) received into the following sources.
A4. Total forms
A5. New registrations A6. Duplicates of
A7. Invalid or rejected
received
existing registrations
TOTAL
a. Individual voters submitting
applications by mail, fax, or email

A3a

A3b

A3d

b. Individual voters registering in person
at the election/registrar’s office
c. Individual voters submitting forms via
web-based online registration system
d. Motor vehicle offices or other offices
that issue driver’s licenses (this
would include automatic registration)
e. Public assistance offices mandated
as registration sites under NVRA
f.

State-funded agencies primarily
serving persons with disabilities

g. Armed forces recruitment offices
h. Other agencies designated by the
state not mandated by NVRA
i.

Registration drives from advocacy
groups or political parties

j.

Other:

k. Other:
l.

Other:

A4–A7 Comments:
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A3e

Confirmation of Registration Notices and Removals: Questions A8 and A9
These questions ask about the total number of confirmation notices as defined under National Voter
Registration Act (NVRA) Section 8 (d) (1) (B) and Section 8 (d) (2). Although NVRA distinguishes
between “confirmation notices” and “removal notices,” some jurisdictions refer to “confirmation
notices” as “removal notices” or something else. If your state is exempt from NVRA, please provide
the information on confirmation notices as requested, but explain in the A8 comments box why
voters received a confirmation notice and include any differences from the NVRA’s definition of
“confirmation notices.”
A8. Total Confirmation of Registration Notices Sent to Voters
For question A8a, report the total number of confirmation notices sent to voters in the period
between the close of registration for the November 2018 general election and the close of
registration for the November 2020 general election. Examples of situations where confirmation
notices may be sent include an indication that the registrant no longer resides in the registrar’s
jurisdiction, or the voter has not voted or appeared to vote in a federal election during the period.
Next, for questions A8b–A8e, divide the total number of confirmation notices mailed (as reported in
A8a) into the listed categories. Use item A8f for notices that cannot be placed into any of the
categories specified in A8b–A8e. The amounts should sum to the total provided in A8a.
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Type of Confirmation Notice

Total

A8a. TOTAL number of confirmation notices sent to registered voters:
The total number of confirmation of registration notices sent to voters
during the time period between the close of registration for the November
2018 general election through the close of registration for the November
2020 general election. Include both the notices sent because there was
an indication that the registrant no longer resides in the jurisdiction and
the notices sent because the voter has not voted or attempted to vote
during the two-year period.
A8b. Received back from voters confirming registration:
The total number of notices returned that confirmed an individual was still
eligible to vote in the jurisdiction.
A8c. Received back confirming registration should be invalidated:
The total number of notices returned that confirmed an individual was no
longer eligible to vote in the jurisdiction or no longer wanted to be
registered to vote.
A8d. Returned back as undeliverable:
The total number of notices returned by the post office because the U.S.
Postal Service could not deliver the notice.
A8e. Status unknown (neither received confirmation nor returned
undeliverable):
Any notice that was sent to a voter but was not received back confirming
registration (A8b), confirming invalidation (A8c), or returned as
undeliverable (A8d).
A8f. Other:
A8g. Other:
A8h. Other:
A8 Comments:

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A9. Total Voters Removed from Registration Rolls: 2018 to 2020
For question A9a, report the total number of voters removed from the voter registration rolls in your
jurisdiction in the period between the close of registration for the November 2018 general election
and the close of registration for the November 2020 general election. Note that this question asks
for those ineligible to vote, not those moved into an “inactive” status.
Next, for questions A9b–A9g, divide the total number of voters removed (as reported in A9a) into the
categories listed below. The amounts should sum to the total provided in A9a.
Reason for Removal

Total

A9a. TOTAL number of voters removed:
Include only those completely removed from the list of registered voters,
not records moved to an inactive list.
A9b. Moved outside jurisdiction
A9c. Death
A9d. Disqualifying felony conviction
A9e. Failure to respond to notice sent and failure to vote in two most
recent federal elections
A9f. Declared mentally incompetent
A9g. Voter request to be removed for reasons other than those listed
above
A9h. Other:
A9i. Other:
A9j. Other:
A9 Comments:

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Section B: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)
The goal of Section B is to understand the voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) in your jurisdiction. The questions in this section of the survey
reflect the need to fully understand the UOCAVA voting process, which serves an important
population segment of the American electorate. This section of the EAVS asks for five types of data:
1. How many individuals were registered and eligible to vote in 2020 as a UOCAVA voter?
2. How many Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) were received by the election office, how
many were accepted, and how many were rejected?
3. How many ballots were transmitted to and returned by UOCAVA voters?
4. How many ballots returned by UOCAVA voters were counted and how many were rejected?
5. How many Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWAB) were received and how many were
rejected or accepted?
Types of UOCAVA Voters
UOCAVA serves several populations of U.S. citizens. Below are the UOCAVA voter categories that are
listed on the FPCA and how they correspond to the voter-type categories that are in this section of
the survey:
Uniformed Services voters—domestic or
foreign

I am a member of the Uniformed Services or
Merchant Marine on active duty
OR
I am an eligible spouse or dependent

Non-military/civilian overseas voter

I am a U.S. citizen residing outside of the United
States, and I intend to return
I am a U.S. citizen residing outside of the United
States, and my return is not certain
I am a U.S. citizen and have never resided in
the United States

It is very important to remember that the spouse or dependent of a Uniformed Services member or
member of the Merchant Marine is also considered a Uniformed Services voter under UOCAVA.
Military spouses and dependents should be categorized as Uniformed Services voters, not as civilian
overseas voters or “Other."
There is a federal definition of UOCAVA and an individual who registers and requests an absentee
ballot using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is covered by UOCAVA. However, your state may
cover additional individuals under UOCAVA; for example, a National Guard member activated on
state orders is often considered a UOCAVA voter under state law. Your state may also allow people to
request UOCAVA status using a state form or another mechanism. For most of Section B, use your
state’s definition of UOCAVA to answer the question. For the questions that specifically ask about
FPCAs, only report data on those voters covered by UOCAVA who submitted an FPCA.
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For 2020, Section B includes the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Post-Election Voting
Survey of Local Election Officials. In 2014, the EAC incorporated these questions for those states
reporting UOCAVA voting information as required by 42 U.S.C. §1973ff-1. States that complete
and submit this section on time to the EAC will fulfill their UOCAVA reporting requirement under
42 U.S.C §1973ff-1(c).
Pursuant to UOCAVA, this section collects various data elements needed to determine: (1) the
combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to UOCAVA voters; (2) the combined number of
ballots returned by UOCAVA voters; and (3) the combined number of returned ballots cast by
UOCAVA voters (the number of cast ballots is practically determined by collecting data concerning
the total votes counted and rejected).
Types of UOCAVA Absentee Ballots
Section B asks about two types of absentee ballots:
Transmitted ballots: These are ballots your office sent to voters, including ballots sent via postal
mail, email, fax, or other modes.
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWAB): These are ballots that originated from UOCAVA voters who
did not receive their requested absentee ballots in time. On the FWAB, the voter lists each office and
either the candidate’s name or party for whom the voter is casting a vote. FWABs should not be
reported with transmitted UOCAVA absentee ballots, and are instead reported in questions B23-B27.
Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section B.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does
not reject a UOCAVA ballot solely because it does not have a postmark—please enter -88
(negative 88) as the response to question B21.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example if your state rejects UOCAVA ballots
without a postmark but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99
(negative 99) as the response to the question.

UOCAVA Voters Registered and Eligible: Question B1
This question asks about the number of registered voters covered under UOCAVA for the 2020
general election.
States may differ in how they grant UOCAVA status to voters, so please apply the guidelines your
state follows.
•

For some states, this may be the total number of voters that registered and requested a
ballot using an FPCA for the November 2020 general election.

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•

For other states, this number might also include voters that did not register using an FPCA
but identified themselves as a UOCAVA voter at some point during the voting process, such
as on a state voter registration form.
In states where a person’s FPCA remains valid across elections without requiring a new FPCA or
other notification to be provided, include all UOCAVA voters who returned an FPCA this year or who
continued to have UOCAVA status from a previous request.
B1. Total Registered and Eligible UOCAVA Voters
For question B1a, report the total number of registered and eligible voters in your jurisdiction who
were covered by UOCAVA in the November 2020 general election.
For questions B1b and B1c, separate the number of registered and eligible voters that were reported
in B1a into the categories Uniformed Services voters or non-military/civilian overseas voters. The
amounts should sum to the total provided in B1a. If you are unable to distinguish between different
UOCAVA voter types, complete B1a and enter -99 (negative 99) for B1b–B1c.
Provide any comments about the nuances of how your jurisdiction categorizes registered UOCAVA
voters in the B1 Comments box.
Category of UOCAVA Voters

Total

B1a. TOTAL registered and eligible:
Report the total number of registered and eligible voters covered under
UOCAVA for the November 2020 general election. Include active and
inactive voters and any persons who might have registered as UOCAVA
prior to or on Election Day.
If the total number of registered and eligible voters who were covered by
UOCAVA in the November 2020 general election in your jurisdiction is
zero, report “0” for B1a.
B1b. Uniformed Services voters (members of the Uniformed Services and
their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign
B1c. Non-military/civilian overseas voters
B1 Comments:

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FPCAs Received, Accepted, and Rejected: Questions B2–B4
These questions ask about Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA), which are federal forms that
states are required to process from voters covered by UOCAVA. For this question, focus on the total
number of UOCAVA-registered voters provided in B1a and identify how many used an FPCA to
register and request an absentee ballot.
B2. Federal Post Card Applications Received
For B2a, report the total number of FPCAs received from UOCAVA voters for the November 2020
general election.
Next, for questions B2a–B2c, separate the total number of FPCAs received from UOCAVA voters into
the categories Uniformed Services voters or non-military/civilian voters. The amounts should sum to
the total provided in B2a.
FPCAs Received from UOCAVA Voters

Total

B2a. TOTAL Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) from UOCAVA voters:
Include any ballot request for the November 2020 general election that
originated from an FPCA, regardless of the year of submission. Only
include FPCA requests; do not include absentee ballot requests that
originated from a state absentee voter registration form or other source.
B2b. Uniformed Services voters (members of the Uniformed Services
and their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign
B2c. Non-military/civilian overseas voters
B2 Comments:

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B3. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected
For question B3a, report the total number of FPCAs rejected from UOCAVA voters. Rejected FPCAs
should include any forms that did not meet full eligibility requirements for triggering the transmission
of a blank ballot. Reasons might include missing information, lack of a signature, a missed deadline,
or overall ineligibility.
For questions B3b–B3d, divide the total number of FPCAs rejected into the categories Uniformed
Services voters or non-military/civilian voters. The amounts should sum to the total provided in B3a.
Reason for FPCA Rejection

Total

B3a. TOTAL REJECTED Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) from all UOCAVA
voters:
Include any ballot request for the November 2020 general election that
originated from an FPCA that was rejected, regardless of the year of submission.
Only include FPCA requests; do not include absentee ballot requests that
originated from a state absentee voter registration form or other source.
B3b. REJECTED FPCAs received from Uniformed Services voters (members of
the Uniformed Services and their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign
B3c. REJECTED FPCAs received from non-military/civilian overseas voters
B3 Comments:
B4. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected Because Late
For question B4, report how many of the FPCAs rejected for the 2020 general election (as reported
in B3a) were rejected because they were late. FPCAs might be considered late if they were received
after the deadline, and the voter is only eligible for a “federal-only” ballot, or failed to meet the
deadline for receiving any ballot for the 2020 general election. Here, “deadline” refers to the last day
a UOCAVA voter could request to receive an absentee ballot using an FPCA.
Reason for FPCA Rejection

Total

B4a. TOTAL FPCAs rejected because late:
Of the total number of Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) that were rejected (as
reported in B3a), how many were rejected because they were received after the
absentee ballot request deadline?
B4 Comments:

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UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted: Questions B5–B8
Transmitted ballots are any ballots that your office sent to UOCAVA voters, including ballots sent to
voters via postal mail, email, fax, or other modes. Do not include FWABs or other ballots not
transmitted from the election office to the voter.
B5–B8. UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted to Voters
For B5a, report the total number of absentee ballots transmitted (sent by your office) to UOCAVA
voters for the November 2020 general election, and then divide the total number of transmitted
UOCAVA ballots that were reported in B5a into Uniformed Services (B5b) and non-military/civilian
overseas voters (B5c). If the total number of UOCAVA ballots transmitted is zero, report “0” for B5a
and skip to B23.
For questions B6, B7, and B8, report how many UOCAVA absentee ballots your jurisdiction
transmitted to UOCAVA voters via postal mail (B6), email (B7), and other modes, such as fax or
online ballot delivery portals (B8). These questions refer to the way ballots were sent to voters, not
the way ballots were requested or returned.
Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services
voters (members of
the Uniformed
Services and their
eligible dependents)domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian
overseas voters

B5. TOTAL absentee ballots
transmitted to UOCAVA voters
B6. Postal mail:
Report the total number
transmitted by postal mail,
using USPS or any private
courier shipping services (e.g.,
FedEx, UPS, DHL).
B7. Email:
Report the total number
transmitted via email
attachment from your office to
voters.
B8. Other mode:
Report the total number
transmitted by other methods
such as fax, online ballot
delivery portals, etc.
B5-B8 Comments:
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UOCAVA Ballots Returned: Questions B9–B13
B9–B12. Transmitted Ballots Returned by Voters: Postal Mail, Email, Other
For these questions, we are interested in how many UOCAVA absentee ballots were returned for the
November 2020 general election. For question B9, please report the total number of ballots that were
returned by voters for the 2020 general election out of all UOCAVA ballots transmitted to voters (as
reported in B5a).
Returned ballots include all ballots returned by the voter to the election office, regardless of whether
or not those ballots are ultimately counted.
Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) from your totals. You will report data on
FWABs starting with question B23.
We are interested in knowing how many of the absentee ballots were returned via postal mail (B10),
email (B11), or another mode (B12). For questions B10–B12, divide the total number of UOCAVA
absentee ballots received (as reported in B9) into the following categories of types of voters and
modes of transmission. The amounts should sum to the total provided in B9.
Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services
voters (members of
the Uniformed
Services and their
eligible dependents)domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian
overseas voters

B9. TOTAL:
Of all UOCAVA ballots
transmitted to voters as
reported in B5a, report the total
number of ballots that were
returned by voters to your office
for the 2020 general election.
Do not include FWABs in this
number.
B10. Postal mail:
Of all UOCAVA ballots received
(B9a), report the total number
that were returned by postal
mail. This includes all ballots
that your office received via the
USPS or private courier shipping
services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL).

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Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services
voters (members of
the Uniformed
Services and their
eligible dependents)domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian
overseas voters

B11. Email:
Of all UOCAVA ballots received
(B9a), report the total number
that were returned by email.
This includes all ballots that you
received via email attachment
from a voter.
B12. Other mode:
Of all UOCAVA ballots received
(B9a), report the total number
that were returned through
other methods. This includes
ballots received through all
other modes, such as, fax,
online systems, etc.
B9–B12 Comments:

B13: Ballots Returned Undeliverable
For question B13, please report the total number of ballots that were returned as undeliverable by
mode of transmission. This would include ballots returned by mail as undeliverable (B13b), ballots
where the email to the voter bounced back and could not be used (B13c), and ballots undeliverable
by other mode, such as a bad fax number (B13d).
Mode of Transmission
a. Total

b. Postal mail
undeliverable

c. Email
undeliverable

d. Other mode
undeliverable

B13. TOTAL ballots returned
undeliverable:
Ballots that were returned,
regardless of the mode by which
they were transmitted, and could
not be delivered to the voter.
B13 Comments:

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UOCAVA Ballots Counted: Questions B14–B17
B14–B17. Transmitted Ballots Counted: Postal Mail, Email, Other
For these questions, we are interested in how many UOCAVA absentee ballots were counted for the
November 2020 general election. For question B14, please report, out of all UOCAVA ballots returned
by voters (as reported in B9a), the total number of ballots that were counted by your office for the
2020 general election. Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB) from your totals.
You will report data on FWABs starting with question B23.
We are interested in knowing how many of the absentee ballots were returned and counted by postal
mail (B15), email (B16), or other (B17). For questions B15–B17, divide the total number of UOCAVA
absentee ballots counted (as reported in B14a) into the following categories of types of voters and
modes of transmission.
Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. Total

b. Uniformed
Services voters
(members of
the Uniformed
Services and
their eligible
dependents)domestic or
foreign

c. Nonmilitary/civilian
overseas voters

B14. TOTAL:
Of all UOCAVA ballots returned by voters as reported
in B9a, report the total number of ballots that were
counted by your office for the 2020 general
election. Do not include FWABs in this number.
B15. Postal mail:
Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned
by postal mail that were counted by your office for
the 2020 general election. This includes all ballots
that your office received via the USPS or private
courier shipping services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, BHL).
B16. Email:
Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned
by email that were counted by your office for the
2020 general election. This includes all ballots that
you received via email attachment from a voter.
B17. Other mode:
Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned
through other methods that were counted by your
office for the 2020 general election. This includes
ballots received through all other modes, such as,
fax, online systems, etc.
B14–B17 Comments:

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UOCAVA Ballots Rejected: Questions B18–B22
B18–22. Total Number of UOCAVA Ballots Rejected and Reasons for Rejection
For questions B18a–B18c, report the total number of transmitted UOCAVA ballots that were returned
by voters and were rejected. Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) from your
totals. You will report data on FWABs starting with question B23.
For questions B19–B22, divide the total number of rejections by type of voter. For example, for
question B20, report the total number of ballots that were rejected because of a signature problem
(B20a) and then divide this total by ballots returned by uniformed services and by overseas citizens.
Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. Total

b. Uniformed
Services voters
(members of
the Uniformed
Services and
their eligible
dependents)domestic or
foreign

c. Nonmilitary/civilian
overseas voters

B18. TOTAL ballots rejected:
Rejected ballots include any ballots that were not
counted. This might include ballots rejected
because they were not completed properly, ballots
received after the deadline for counting, ballots that
lacked a postmark, or ballots submitted by
individuals who were not eligible to vote in your
jurisdiction.
B19. Ballot not received on time/missed deadline:
Ballots that were not counted because they were
received after the deadline for a ballot to be
received for counting.
B20. Problem with voter signature:
Ballots that were not counted because of an issue
relating to the voter signature, including but not
limited to a missing signature or a returned ballot
signature not matching the signature on file.
B21. Ballot lacked a postmark:
Ballots that were not counted because the ballot
lacked the postmark required by your state or
jurisdiction, despite being received before the
deadline for being included for counting.
B22. Other:
B18–B22 Comments:

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Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots: Questions B23–B27
B23–B27. Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots Received, Counted, and Rejected
For questions B23–B27, report the total number of Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs)
received, counted, and rejected from UOCAVA voters for the following groups.
Type of UOCAVA Voter

a. TOTAL
number of
FWABs

b. Uniformed
Services
voters
(members of
the Uniformed
Services and
their eligible
dependents)—
domestic or
foreign

c. Nonmilitary/civilian
overseas
voters

B23. TOTAL number of FWABs returned by
UOCAVA voters
B24. TOTAL number of FWABs counted
B25. Total number of FWABs rejected because
it was received after the ballot receipt
deadline:
Of the total number of FWABs received and
rejected, report the number of FWABs that
were rejected or not counted because they
were received after the state’s deadline for
receiving and accepting FWABs.
B26. Total number of FWABs rejected because
the voter’s regular absentee ballot was
received and counted:
Of the total number of FWABs received and
rejected, report the number of FWABs that
were rejected or not counted because the
voter also returned an absentee ballot that you
had transmitted to the voter.
B27. Total number of FWABs rejected for other
reasons (please describe):
B23–B27 Comments:

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Section C: Domestic Civilian By-Mail Voting
Section C asks about by-mail voting, which includes all individuals who received a ballot from your
office prior to Election Day by mail (or via download from a web portal or by fax). It does not matter
how the by-mail ballot was returned (via mail, dropped off at a polling place, or other designated
method).
This section of the EAVS used to be called “Domestic Civilian Absentee Ballots.” The EAVS now
uses the term “by mail” to reflect that a majority of states no longer require a voter to be absent
from his or her voting location in order to cast a ballot by mail.
The goal of Section C is to understand by-mail voting, which some jurisdictions may refer to as
absentee voting. Remember that Section C is about domestic by-mail voting, not UOCAVA voting.
This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:
1. How many by-mail ballots were transmitted to voters in the 2020 general election?
2. How many by-mail ballots were transmitted to permanent by-mail voters in the 2020 general
election?
3. How many by-mail ballots were accepted and how many by-mail ballots were rejected in the
2020 general election?
4. For what reasons were by-mail ballots rejected in the 2020 general election?
When responding to questions in Section C, do not include any individuals who voted using any
form of in-person voting, including in-person absentee voting. For the purpose of the EAVS, inperson absentee voters are considered early voters and are reported in Section D.

Transmitted Civilian By-Mail Ballots: Questions C1–C2
Transmitted civilian by-mail ballots are by-mail ballots that your office sent to voters, including ballots
sent to voters via postal mail, email, fax, or other modes. Do not include ballots mailed to UOCAVA
voters.

Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section C.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does
not have permanent by-mail voters—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to
question C2a.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have permanent bymail voting but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99)
as the response to the question.

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C1. Total By-Mail Ballots Transmitted
For question C1, report the total number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots transmitted to voters for
the November 2020 general election. Include all by-mail ballots transmitted for this election. Next,
divide the total number of by-mail ballots transmitted to voters (as reported in C1a) into the
categories listed in C1b through C1f. Use C1g for any by-mail ballots that do not fit into the
categories listed. The numbers entered in C1b through C1f should sum to the total provided in C1a.
Category of By-Mail Ballots

Total

C1a. TOTAL domestic by-mail ballots transmitted:
This number should include all by-mail ballots transmitted to non-UOCAVA
voters before Election Day, including spoiled or replaced ballots.
C1b. Returned by voters (including ballots both counted and rejected):
C1c. Returned as undeliverable:
Report the total number of transmitted ballots returned to your office as
undeliverable. Here, undeliverable ballots would be ballots returned by the
U.S. Postal Service.
C1d. Surrendered, spoiled or replaced ballots (also referred to as “voided”
ballots):
This category includes a by-mail voter who surrenders his or her by-mail
ballot at a polling place in order to vote in person. It also includes ballots
that were incorrectly marked or impaired in some way; a replacement
ballot may be issued so that the voter can correctly mark the ballot.
C1e. By-mail voters who voted in person with a provisional ballot:
In states with by-mail voting, some by-mail voters decide to vote in person
on Election Day. If the by-mail voter surrenders his or her by-mail ballot at
the polls to vote in person using the regular voting process, the by-mail
ballot is considered spoiled and should be included in C1d. However,
some by-mail voters do not bring their ballot to the polls on Election Day
and must vote with a provisional ballot. Please record these voters in C1e.
If your state categorizes these voters as having spoiled their by-mail
ballots, please note this in the C1 Comments box.
C1f. Status unknown (neither returned undeliverable nor returned from
voter):
This category would include all transmitted by-mail ballots that were not
returned by voter, spoiled, returned as undeliverable, or otherwise unable
to be tracked by your office.
C1g. Other:
C1h. Other:
C1i. Other:
C1 Comments:

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C2. Ballots Sent to Permanent By-Mail Voters
For question C2a, report the total number of ballots that were transmitted to permanent by-mail
voters in your jurisdiction. This includes all ballots that were sent to voters in your jurisdiction who
appear on a permanent by-mail ballot list. This should not include ballots transmitted by jurisdictions
that conduct elections entirely by mail.
This question applies if ANY voters in your state can request to be a permanent or by-mail voter.
For example, in some states, if a voter is permanently ill or disabled, he or she can file an
application indicating permanent illness or physical disability and receive by-mail (absentee)
ballots for all subsequent elections without filing any additional by-mail (absentee) ballot
applications. In other states, any voter can apply for permanent by-mail voter status.
If your state does not allow any voters to have permanent by-mail voting status, answer -88 to
question C2a and move to question C3.
Total
C2a.TOTAL number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots transmitted to
voters on a permanent by-mail ballot voter registration list
C2 Comments:

Returned and Rejected Ballots: Questions C3–C4
C3. Total Number of By-Mail Ballots Returned and Counted
For question C3, report the total number of by-mail ballots returned and counted.
Total
C3a. TOTAL returned and counted:
Ballots that were processed, counted, and included in the canvas of
election results.
C3 Comments:

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C4. Number of By-Mail Ballots Rejected, by Reason Rejected
For question C4, provide the total number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots rejected, and then
divide these into the following categories indicating the reason why the by-mail ballots were rejected.
Use options C4p-C4r for any ballots that cannot be placed in the categories given in C4b through
C4o. The numbers reported in C4b through C4r should sum to the total number of ballots rejected
reported in C4a.
Category of By-Mail Ballots

Total

C4a. TOTAL number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots rejected
C4b. Ballot not received on time/missed deadline
C4c. No voter signature
C4d. No witness signature
C4e. Non-matching signature
C4f. No election official’s signature on ballot
C4g. Ballot returned in an unofficial envelope
C4h. Ballot missing from envelope
C4i. Envelope not sealed
C4j. No resident address on envelope
C4k. Multiple ballots returned in one envelope
C4l. Voter deceased
C4m. Voter already voted in person
C4n. First-time voter without proper identification
C4o. No ballot application on record
C4p. Other:
C4q. Other:
C4r. Other:
C4 Comments:

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Section D: In-Person Voting and Polling Operations
The goal of Section D is to understand in-person voting and polling operations in your jurisdiction.
This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:
1. How many people voted in person—either on Election Day or during in-person early voting
(including in-person absentee voting)—in 2020?
2. How many precincts did you have in your jurisdiction for the 2020 general election?
3. How many polling places—for Election Day voting and in-person early voting—did your
jurisdiction have for the 2020 general election?
4. How many poll workers—for Election Day voting and in-person early voting—did your
jurisdiction have for the 2020 general election, and other data related to poll workers?
Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section D.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does
not have any form of in-person early voting—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the
response to question D1b.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have in-person early
voting but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as
the response to the question.

Total In-Person Voting: Question D1
D1. Total In-Person Voting
For question D1, report the total number of people in your jurisdiction who voted either at a physical
polling location on Election Day or voted at a physical polling location prior to the November 2020
general election.
Category of Ballots

Total

D1a. Voted at a physical polling place on Election Day:
This category includes all individuals who cast a ballot at a physical
location on Election Day, regardless of whether their ballots were
ultimately counted or rejected (not including provisional ballots or
absentee ballots dropped off at the polls).
D1b. Voted at an early vote location:
This category includes all individuals who cast a ballot at a physical
location before Election Day, regardless of whether their ballots were
ultimately counted or rejected.
D1 Comments:
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Precincts and Polling Places: Questions D2–D4
This section asks about polling places and precincts. First, you will report the number of precincts
and second, the number of physical polling places.
D2. Total Number of Precincts
For question D2a, report the total number of precincts in your jurisdiction for the November 2020
general election. For this question, a precinct is defined as the geographic area to which voters are
assigned. It is an administrative division of a county or municipality to which voters have been
assigned according to their residence address for voting in an election. Your jurisdiction may use the
terms “ward” or “voting district” to describe voting precincts.
Type of Registration

Total

D2a. TOTAL number of precincts in your jurisdiction for the November
2020 general election
D2 Comments:
D3–D4. Total Number of Physical Polling Places (Election Day and Early Voting)
For questions D3a and D4a, report the total number of physical polling places in your jurisdiction for
Election Day voting (D3) and for early voting (D4) for the November 2020 general election. If a single
location was used for both early voting and Election Day voting, please include it in both counts.
Remember that in-person absentee voting is considered early voting for the purposes of the
EAVS.
For questions D3b and D3c and D4b through D4c, separate Election Day polling locations into two
categories:
•
•

Physical polling places that are not a part of the election office (D3b and D4b), and
Polling places that are a part of the election office (D3c and D4c).

If your jurisdiction has two precincts in one location, such as a school gym, this is only one polling
place (even if they are far apart in the gym). However, if your jurisdiction has a polling place at a
school in the library and then has another polling place at the same school but it is in the gym, that
would constitute two polling places. If your jurisdiction allows any individuals to cast a ballot in
person at the local election office, please note these jurisdictions in D3c and D4c.
Category of Polling Place

D3. Election Day
voting

D4. Early voting

a. TOTAL
b. Physical polling places other than election offices
(e.g., libraries, schools, mobile voting location)
c. Election offices
D3–D4 Comments:
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Poll Workers: Questions D5–D7
The EAVS asks about the number of poll workers who served in the 2020 general election. Your
jurisdiction may use a different term for poll workers, including election judges, booth workers,
wardens, commissioners, or other similar terms.
Here, “poll worker” refers to a person who verifies the identity of a voter; assists the voter with
signing the register, affidavits, or other documents required to cast a ballot; assists the voter by
providing the voter with a ballot or setting up the voting machine for the voter; and serves other
functions as dictated by state law.
Your count of poll workers should not include observers stationed at the polling places, regular
office staff who did not serve poll worker functions during the election, or temporary election staff
not hired specifically to serve voters in either early or Election Day voting.

D5–D6. Total Number of Poll Workers
For questions D5 and D6, report the total number of poll workers used in your jurisdiction for the
November 2020 general election. For question D5, report the total number of poll workers who
worked Election Day voting. For question D6, report the total number of poll workers who worked inperson early voting (counting each poll worker only once, regardless of the number of shifts they
worked). If a poll worker worked as a poll worker for Election Day voting and as a poll worker during
early voting, the poll worker would be counted both under the category of Election Day poll worker
and the category of early voting poll worker.
D5. Election Day
voting

D6. Early voting

a. TOTAL number of poll workers
D5–D6 Comments:

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D7. Age of Poll Workers
If your jurisdiction has data on the ages of its poll workers (for example, from voter registration
records, payroll records, or poll worker applications), report the total number of poll workers in each
age category. In this question, each poll worker should only be counted once, regardless of the
number of shifts they worked.
Age of Poll Workers

Total

D7a. TOTAL number of poll workers
D7b. Under 18 years old
D7c. 18 to 25
D7d. 26 to 40
D7e. 41 to 60
D7f. 61 to 70
D7g. 71 years old and over
D7 Comments:
D8. Ease of Recruiting Poll Workers
How difficult or easy was it for your jurisdiction to obtain a sufficient number of poll workers for the
November 2020 general election? Please select one option.
o
o
o
o
o
o

Very difficult
Somewhat difficult
Neither difficult nor easy
Somewhat easy
Very easy
Not enough information to answer

D8 Comments:

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Section E: Provisional Ballots
The goal of Section E is to understand provisional voting in your jurisdiction. This section of the EAVS
asks for three types of data:
1. How many individuals cast a provisional ballot in the 2020 general election?
2. Of the provisional ballots cast, how many were counted and how many were rejected?
3. What were the reasons provisional ballots were rejected?
Two definitions will be helpful as you answer the questions in Section E:
Provisional voter: An individual who declares that he or she is a registered voter in the jurisdiction
where he or she desires to vote and is eligible to vote in an election for federal office, but (1) his or
her name does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the polling place, or (2) an election
official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote.
Provisional ballot: A ballot used to record a vote when there is some question regarding the eligibility
of the voter. Once voted, provisional ballots are kept separate from other ballots and are not
tabulated until the eligibility of the voter is confirmed.
Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section E.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does
not have provisional ballots—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to question
E1a.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example, your state does have provisional ballots
but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as the
response to the question.

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Provisional Ballots Submitted and Rejected: Questions E1 and E2
E1. Total Provisional Ballots Submitted and Adjudication
For question E1a, report the total number of voters who submitted provisional ballots in the
November 2020 general election. Next, for questions E1b-E1e, divide the total number of voters who
submitted provisional ballots (as reported in E1a) into the categories listed below.
Provisional Ballot Outcomes

Total

E1a. TOTAL number of voters who submitted provisional ballots:
The number of voters who submitted provisional ballots, regardless of
whether or not the provisional ballot was ultimately counted in part or full.
States that are exempt from the provisional ballot requirements of HAVA
and do not offer provisional ballots should report -88.
E1b. Provisional ballots counted in full
E1c. Provisional ballots counted in part (e.g. only the items on the ballot
for which the voter would have been eligible had he or she voted in the
correct precinct)
E1d. Provisional ballots rejected
E1e. Other:
E1 Comments:

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E2. Reasons Provisional Ballots Rejected
For question E2a, please report the total number of provisional ballots rejected (as reported in E1d).
For questions E2b–E2m, please divide the total number of provisional ballots rejected into the
following categories according to the reason the provisional ballots were rejected. The amounts
should sum to the total provided in E2a.
If a provisional ballot was rejected for multiple reasons, please use the primary reason why the
provisional ballot was rejected, if possible, so that reasons for rejection (E2b through E2m) equal
E2a. If provisional ballots were classified into more than one reason for rejection, please indicate the
number of ballots that were classified into multiple categories in E2 Comments. Use items E2k
through E2m for rejected provisional ballots that cannot be placed in any of the categories given in
E2b through E2j.
Reason for Provisional Ballot Rejection

Total

E2a. TOTAL number of provisional ballots rejected
E2b. Voter not registered in the state
E2c. Voter registered in state but attempted to vote in the wrong jurisdiction
E2d. Voter registered in state but attempted to vote in the wrong precinct
E2e. Failure to provide sufficient identification
E2f. Envelope and/or ballot was incomplete and/or illegible
E2g. Ballot missing from envelope
E2h. No signature
E2i. Non-matching signature
E2j. Voter already voted
E2k. Other:
E2l. Other:
E2m. Other:
E2 Comments:

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Section F: Voter Participation and Election Technologies
The goal of Section F is to calculate the number of individuals who participated in the 2020 general
election and identify the type of voting technologies that were used in your jurisdiction.

Questions F1 and F2
The purposes of the following two questions are (1) to determine the total number of voters who cast
a ballot that was counted in the 2020 general election, and (2) to determine the source of the data
reported. This includes all voters whose ballots were counted, regardless of vote mode, in the
election. Include all voters (e.g., both civilian and military by-mail voters) and all types of ballots (in
person, by mail, provisional).

Answering All Questions
Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section F.
•

If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your jurisdiction
uses only one model of DRE w/o VVPAT voting equipment—please enter -88 (negative 88)
as the response to the second and third lines of question F5b.

•

If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data
necessary to answer the question—for example, if your jurisdiction uses DREs w/o VVPATs
but does not track the number of machines deployed—enter -99 (negative 99) as the
response to question F5c.

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F1. Total Participation in the 2020 Election
For question F1, please provide the total number of voters who cast a ballot that was counted in the
2020 election, by mode of voting.
While other items in the survey have reported some of this data, only voters whose ballots were
counted should be reported in this set of questions.
Type of Participants

Total

F1a. TOTAL number of voters who cast a ballot that was counted:
All voters who voted in the election, including all categories of voters listed
below.
F1b. Voters who cast a ballot at a physical polling place on Election Day, and
whose ballots were counted:
All voters who cast ballots in person on Election Day, not including provisional
ballots or mail ballots dropped off at the polls.
F1c. UOCAVA voters who cast a ballot via absentee or FWAB, and whose ballots
were counted:
All voters who are covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee
Voting Act (UOCAVA) and who used either a transmitted absentee ballot or a
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
F1d. Voters who cast a domestic civilian by-mail ballot, and whose ballots were
counted:
All voters who voted using a by-mail absentee ballot. This should not include
voters whose jurisdictions conduct elections entirely by mail; those voters are
reported in F1g.
F1e. Voters who cast a provisional ballot, and whose ballots were counted:
All voters who cast a provisional ballot that was counted, either partially or in
full.
F1f. Voters who cast a ballot at an in-person early voting location, and whose
ballots were counted:
All voters who participated in the election in person prior to Election Day. This
includes in-person early voting or in-person absentee voting.
F1g. Voters who cast a by-mail ballot in a jurisdiction that conducts elections
entirely by mail, and whose ballots were counted:
All voters who cast ballots in a jurisdiction that uses an all-vote-by-mail system
(i.e. sends a mail ballot to every registered voter). This should not include
voters who used a domestic civilian by-mail ballot; those voters are reported in
F1d.
F1h. Other:
F1 Comments:

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F2. Source of Data on Total Participation in the 2020 Election
For question F2, indicate the source that was used for the total number of participants entered in
question F1. (Select only one source.)

o

o

o
o
o

Poll books and number of by-mail/provisional participants: Number of voters checked off by
poll workers or who signed poll books at physical polling places plus the number of UOCAVA
and other by-mail or early voters.
Number of ballots counted: Participation is based on the number of ballots counted at
precincts and/or at a central location (including UOCAVA and other by-mail or early vote
ballots).
Vote history: Participation is based on the number of voters generated after “vote history”
has been added.
Votes cast: Participation is based on the number of votes cast for the highest office on the
ballot.
Other (please specify): ___________________________________________________________
F2 Comments:

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Poll Books: Questions F3–F4
There are two key election technologies that are asked about in the EAVS: the type of poll books
used in your jurisdiction’s polling places and the type of voting technology used to tabulate votes.
F3–F4. Use of Electronic and Paper Poll Books
For questions F3 and F4, indicate whether your jurisdiction used electronic poll books or printed,
paper poll books in polling places in the November 2020 general election for the listed activities.
Completely vote-by-mail jurisdictions should answer “No” to all items.
Electronic poll book (e-poll book): A type of hardware, software, or a combination of both, that is used
in the place of a traditional paper poll book that lists all registered voters. These are not voting
machines and are not used in the process of voting.
For each item below (a, b, c, and d), did your jurisdiction use electronic poll books/electronic lists of
voters or traditional paper poll books at polling places for the following functions in the November
2020 general election?
Use of Poll Books
a. Sign voters in
b. Update voter history
c. Look up polling places
d. Other
F3–F4 Comments:

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F3. Electronic Poll Book
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No

F4. Paper Poll Book
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No

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Voting Technologies: Questions F5–F11
This question has been simplified over how it was asked in past years. Providing the best data will
give the EAC the most complete picture possible of the voting technology your voters used to cast
their ballots.
F5–F11. Voting Equipment Used
For questions F5–F11, report the number and type of voting equipment used for each aspect of the
election process in the November 2020 general election. Report the following information:
•

Equipment type—please note whether your jurisdiction uses:
o Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE), not equipped with a voter-verified paper audit trail
(VVPAT)
o Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE), equipped with a voter-verified paper audit trail
(VVPAT)
o Electronic system that produces a paper record but does not tabulate votes (often
referred to as a “ballot marking device”)
o Scanner (optical/digital) that tabulates paper records that voters mark by hand or via
a ballot marking device
o Punch card
o Lever
o Hand-counted paper ballots (not optical/digital scan system)
• Make and model of the voting equipment used (e.g., the ES&S ExpressVote® or the
Dominion ImageCast®Evolution/ICE). There is space provided to list up to three makes and
models for each equipment type.
• The number of machines deployed
• Equipment uses—indicate whether each type of equipment was used for:
o In-precinct Election Day regular balloting
o Special device accessible to voters with a disability
o Provisional ballot voting
o In-person early voting
o By-mail ballot counting
Provide any comments about the nuances of your jurisdiction’s use of voting equipment, or record
information about additional voting equipment in use, in the F5-F11 Comments box.
[See next page]

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a. In Use in Your
Jurisdiction

F5. DRE
machines w/o
VVPAT

F6. DRE
machines w/
VVPAT

F7. Ballot
marking device

F8. Scanner

o
o

o
o

o
o

o
o

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b. Make/Model

c. Number
Deployed

d. Equipment Use
(Select All that Apply)

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting
□ By-mail ballot counting

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting
□ By-mail ballot counting
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a. In Use in Your
Jurisdiction

F9. Punch card

F10. Lever

F11. No
equipment
(hand count)

o
o

o
o

o
o

b. Make/Model

c. Number
Deployed

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting
□ By-mail ballot counting

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ In-person early voting

Yes
No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular
balloting
□ Special device accessible to
voters with a disability
□ Provisional ballot voting
□ In-person early voting
□ By-mail ballot counting

F5-F11 Comments:

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Location of Vote Tally: Question F12
F12. Location for Where Votes are Tallied
For each of the following uses of your jurisdiction’s voting equipment, report where the votes are
tallied.
Location of Vote Tally for:
F12a. In-precinct Election Day regular ballot voting:

F12b. Special devices accessible to disabled voters:

F12c. Provisional ballot voting:

F12d. In-person early voting:

F12e. By-mail balloting:

F12 Comments:

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Please Select One
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

Central location
Precinct or polling location
Both central and precinct location
Does not apply
Data not available
Central location
Precinct or polling location
Both central and precinct location
Does not apply
Data not available
Central location
Precinct or polling location
Both central and precinct location
Does not apply
Data not available
Central location
Precinct or polling location
Both central and precinct location
Does not apply
Data not available
Central location
Precinct or polling location
Both central and precinct location
Does not apply
Data not available

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F13. General Comments
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) welcomes any general comments the jurisdiction
may wish to share regarding its Election Day experiences (e.g., problems with voting system
anomalies*, recounts, staffing, challenges to eligibility, long lines), or noteworthy successes or
challenges overcome in administering the November 2020 general election. Use as much space as
you need. Please feel free to attach additional pages as necessary.
*An anomaly is defined as an irregular or inconsistent action or response from the voting system or
system component resulting in some disruption to the election process. Incidents resulting from
administrator error or procedural deficiencies are not considered anomalies for purposes of this
survey question (EAC Voting Systems Testing and Certification Program Manual).
F13 Comments:

END OF SURVEY
THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THIS SURVEY
This information collection is required for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to meet its
statutory requirements under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901), the
National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (52 U.S.C. 20502 et seq.), and the Uniformed and Overseas
Citizens Absentee Voters Act (UOCAVA) (52 U.S.C. 20302). Respondent’s obligation to reply to this
information collection is mandatory as required under NVRA (52 U.S.C. 20502 et seq.) and UOCAVA
(52 U.S.C. 20302); respondents include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.
Territories. This information will be made publicly available on the EAC website (http://www.eac.gov).
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1994, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is OMB Control No. 3265-0006 (expires 3/31/2021). The annualized time required to
complete this information collection is estimated to average 88 hours per state response. This
estimate includes the time for reviewing the instructions, gathering information, and completing the
form. Comments regarding this burden estimate should be sent to the U.S. Election Assistance
Commission: 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey, 1334 East West Highway, Suite 4300,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
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File Typeapplication/pdf
AuthorJohn Yoo
File Modified2020-03-26
File Created2020-03-26

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