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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2875-2876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-261]

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U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

Information Collection; Study of the Feasibility and Advisability 
of Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for 
Absentee Ballots--Survey of Registered Voters

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The EAC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork 
and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take 
this opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection. 
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, 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. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection in writing to the U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission, 1225 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 
20005, ATTN: Ms. Laiza N. Otero (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the Focus Group 
Discussion Guide, please, write to the above address or call Ms. Laiza 
N. Otero at (202) 566-3100. You may also view the proposed collection 
instrument by visiting our Web site at www.eac.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title and OMB Number: Study of the Feasibility and Advisability of 
Establishing a Program of Free Return or Reduced Postage for Absentee 
Ballots--Survey of Registered Voters.
    OMB Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Needs and Uses: Sec. 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 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. 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.
    Affected Public: Citizens.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Burden per Response: .25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300 hours.
    Information will be collected through a survey of U.S. citizens to 
determine the possible effect that a free and/or reduced cost absentee 
ballot postage program would have on voter participation. The sample 
will be designed in such a way so as to afford analysis of the results 
according to significant sub-groups including those living in states 
with high versus low rates of absentee voting and states with 
restrictive versus states with laws favoring absentee voting. The 
surveys will be representative of the U.S. population and will be 
conducted by phone using random digit dialing (RDD) technology. Within 
each contacted household, a respondent will be selected among all 
adults in the household aged 18 years and older. The following 
information will be requested from each respondent:

1. Background Information

    The survey will gather data regarding each respondent's background. 
Background information will include, the respondent's location (state, 
county, and zip code), the location of the respondent's voter 
registration (state, county, zip code), age, ethnicity, education, 
income bracket, whether the respondent is living with a disability, 
whether the respondent was displaced due to a natural disaster, and 
whether the respondent is currently an active-duty member of the armed 
forces (or a dependent thereof).

2. Voting Information

    The survey will gather date regarding the respondent's voting 
history. Voting information will include, registration status, whether 
the respondent voted in the 2006 Congressional election, whether the 
respondent voted in the 2004 Presidential election, whether the 
respondent voted in the 2000 Presidential election, how the respondent 
voted in past elections (in person, by mail, absentee), whether the 
respondent is eligible to vote absentee (or whether the respondent does 
not know).

3. Program Effect

    The survey will gather data from all respondents regarding the 
various effects that the establishment of this program would have on 
the targeted citizens. Questions on the program will cover (1) whether 
the program will increase the likelihood that the respondent would use 
the absentee ballot process; (2) whether the program will increase the 
likelihood that the respondent would vote in a federal election; (3) 
whether the program will make it easier for the voter to participate in 
elections.
    This study is further being supplemented with information collected 
through a series of three focus groups comprised of potential 
beneficiaries of a free and/or discounted absentee ballot postage 
program. Information about the focus groups' information collection can 
be found at

[[Page 2876]]

www.eac.gov and the Federal Register (Vol. 71, No. 219, Page 66321).

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 07-261 Filed 1-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-M
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