[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 67712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25663]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Information Collection Activity; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, EAC announces the proposed public information 
collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments 
are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the information collection on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received on or 
before close of business (5:30 p.m. e.s.t.) on Monday, December 6, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection should be sent to the U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission, 1225 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Mr. 
Brian Hancock or may be submitted by facsimile transmission at (202) 
566-3127.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please write to the above address, 
or call Mr. Brian Hancock at (202) 566-3100.
    Title and OMB Number: Military and Overseas Absentee Ballot Survey, 
OMB Number 6820-0NEW.
    Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is necessary 
to meet a requirement of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (42 
U.S.C. 15301 et seq.). Section 703 of HAVA requires the states and 
local election jurisdictions to ``submit a report to the Election 
Assistance Commission * * * 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 * * *'' HAVA further 
directs EAC to develop a form for the report of these statistics.
    Affected Public: State or Local Government.
    Annual Burden Hours: 5060 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 55.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden Per Reslponse: 92 hours.
    Frequency: Following each federal general election (Bi-annually).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

    HAVA created the Election Assistance Commission and enacted 
numerous provisions aimed at improving the administration of federal 
elections. This survey seeks information regarding the ballots 
requested and cast by military personnel and overseas citizens in the 
November 2, 2004 election. In addition, this information will assist 
EAC in studying the administration of that federal election, will 
provide insight into issues or problems that may require additional 
study and consideration, and will assist the EAC in providing a 
complete report to Congress on the successes and challenges related to 
the November 2, 2004 election. The following categories of information 
are requested on a countylocal election jurisdiction and State level:

Contact Information

    State, name, title, address, phone, e-mail, and date of submission.

Absentee Ballots

    <bullet> Number of absentee ballots transmitted to (a) domestic 
military, (b) overseas military, and (c) overseas citizens;
    <bullet> Number of absentee ballots returned by (a) domestic 
military, (b) overseas military, and (c) overseas citizens;
    <bullet> Number of advance or special write in ballots sent to 
military and overseas citizens;
    <bullet> Number of absentee ballots returned by (a) mail, (b) fax, 
and (c) e-mail;
    <bullet> Number of absentee ballots counted;
    <bullet> Number of absentee ballots rejected for each of the 
following reasons, respectively: (a) Lacked postmark, (b) lacked 
voter's signature, (c) contained no verifiable signature, (d) had no 
date of signature, (e) had no notary or witness signature, (f) had no 
date of notary or witness signature, (g) was received after the state 
deadline, (h) was returned as undeliverable, or (i) was rejected for 
another reason;
    <bullet> Number of Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB).

Jurisdictions Responding

    Total number of local jurisdictions, total number of local 
jurisdictions reporting, reasons for missing data, and the name and 
contact information for each local election jurisdiction official that 
provided information for the purpose of responding to the survey.

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.,
Chairman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-25663 Filed 11-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-YN-M