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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 22536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08832]

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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

Procedural Manual for the Election Assistance Commission's Voting 
System Test Laboratories Program Manual, Version 2.0

AGENCY: United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

ACTION: Notice; publication of Voting System Test Laboratories Program 
Manual, Version 2.0, for 60 day public comment period on EAC Web site.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is publishing a 
procedural manual for its Voting System Testing and Certification 
Program. This manual sets the administrative procedures for becoming an 
EAC accredited test laboratory and guidelines for VSTL participation in 
the EAC Testing and Certification Program. The program is mandated by 
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) at 42 US.C. 15371.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background. HAVA requires that the EAC provide for the 
accreditation and revocation of accreditation of independent, non-
federal laboratories qualified to test voting systems to Federal 
standards (Section 231(b) of HAVA (42 US.C. 15371(b))). Generally, the 
EAC considers for accreditation those laboratories evaluated and 
recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
(NIST). The Voting System Test Laboratory Program Manual, published 
below, sets the procedures for this program.
    EAC is required to resubmit the Testing and Certification Manual 
for renewal in accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
requirements. The Testing and Certification Division has updated 
sections of the manual to reflect proposed changes in certification 
procedures. These sections are highlighted for ease of review.
    Comments. Please submit comments consistent with the information 
below. Comments should identify and cite the section of the manual at 
issue. Where a substantive issue is raised, please propose a 
recommended change or alternative policy.
    Comments are also 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, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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. 
This notice is published in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, to request comments regarding the burden of responding to the 
information collection activities of the proposed manual; please refer 
to the EAC's Web site, www.eac.gov, for further information about the 
submission of comments regarding burden.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on this draft procedural 
manual on or before 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 17, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments via email to VotingSystemGuidelines@eac.gov; 
via mail to Brian Hancock, Director of Voting System Certification, 
U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1201 New York Avenue, Suite 300, 
Washington, DC 20005; or via fax to 202-566-1392. An electronic copy of 
the proposed manual may be found on the EAC's Web site http://www.eac.gov/open/comment.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Hancock, Director, Voting System 
Certification, Washington, DC, (202) 566-3100, Fax: (202) 566-1392.

Alice Miller,
Chief Operating Officer and Acting Executive Director, U.S. Election 
Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 2013-08832 Filed 4-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-P
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