[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 96 (Friday, May 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28036-28037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2463]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


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

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has submitted the 
following information collection request to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2006, at 
71 FR 66321. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. Two 
comments were received on this information collection during that time 
period, and as a result the number of focus groups was increased from 
three to nine. In addition, each selected group will now have one focus 
group from an urban, rural, and suburban location to ensure the 
diversity of responses and participants. The purpose of this notice is 
to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted until June 18, 2007. This process is 
conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. 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: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection should be sent to:
    OMB Review: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 
395-7316.

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 Ms. Karen Lynn-Dyson at (202) 566-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Study of the Feasibility and 
Advisability of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced 
Postage for Absentee Ballots--Focus Groups.
    OMB Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Needs and Uses: Section 246 of the Help America Vote Act requires 
the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), in consultation with the 
United States Postal Service, to conduct a study on the feasibility and 
advisability of establishing a program under which the U.S. Postal 
Service shall waive or otherwise reduce the amount of postage 
applicable with respect to absentee ballots returned by voters in 
general elections for Federal Office. This study does not address the 
cost to the U.S. Postal Service for free postage for sending absentee 
ballots but may consider costs to election officials that are related 
to implementing such a program including the costs of sending absentee 
ballots to voters. It also does not include consideration of the 39 
U.S.C. 3406 provisions for the mailing of balloting materials for 
military and overseas absentee voters.
    As part of the study the Commission is directed to conduct a 
nationwide survey of potential beneficiaries, including the elderly and 
disabled, and to take into account the results of this survey in 
determining the feasibility and advisability of establishing such a 
program. This survey will be supplemented by focus groups among 
potential beneficiaries--elderly, disabled, low-income--to obtain more 
specific information on the challenges these populations face when 
participating in election and to assess the potential benefit these 
populations might receive from a program of free return or reduced 
postage for absentee ballots. At the conclusion of the study effort, 
EAC is required to submit a report to Congress with recommendations for 
such legislative and administrative action as EAC determines 
appropriate. The report shall contain an analysis of the feasibility of 
implementing such a program and an estimate of the costs. It is 
required to specifically contain recommendations regarding the elderly 
and disabled populations, including ways a free absentee ballot return 
postage program would target these populations and identify methods to 
increase the number or such individuals who vote in elections for 
Federal office.
    Affected Public: Citizens.
    Number of Respondents: 108.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden Per Response: 1.25 hours; focus groups will last 
no longer than 1.25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 135 hours.
    Information will be collected through a series of nine focus groups 
comprised of potential beneficiaries of a free and/or discounted 
absentee ballot postage program. Three (3) focus groups will be 
dedicated to issues confronting the elderly population, three (3) focus 
groups will be dedicated to issues confronting disabled people and 
three (3) focus groups will be dedicated to issues confronting the low-
income citizens. An official from the United States Postal Service will 
observe at least one of the planned focus groups. The topics that will 
be explored included:
    1. The challenges that the particular population faces when 
participating in elections.
    a. Information on respondents' previous experiences with voting in 
Federal elections. Information on any difficulties encountered in the 
process of voting and how the issues were resolved.
    2. The concerns members of the particular population have about 
voting (e.g. voter intimidation, voter confidentiality, security, use 
of ballots).
    a. Information on particular incidents that has prevented 
respondent from being able to vote.
    3. The possible remedies to those challenges that would likely 
increase the rates of voter participation in the population (e.g. 
relaxed absentee voting laws, better accessibility to polling places, 
voter education).
    a. Information on respondents' interest in absentee ballot voting.
    4. The likelihood that a free or discounted absentee ballot postage 
program would assist the particular population.
    a. Information on respondents' interest in a program of free or 
discounted postage for absentee ballots.
    5. How the program could possibility by implemented to target the 
particular population.
    a. Information on creating and implementing the program to ensure 
that it benefits the particular population.

[[Page 28037]]

    6. The factors that would make reaching the particular population 
difficult.
    a. Information on advertising such a program to the particular 
population so that they can take advantage of the change.

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistant Commission.
[FR Doc. 07-2463 Filed 5-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-M