[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12944-12945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04818]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Voting System Manufacturer Registration and Application for 
Testing; Survey and Submission to OMB of Proposed Collection of 
Information

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
EAC announces an information collection and seeks public comment on the 
provisions thereof. The EAC intends to submit this proposed information 
collection to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for 
approval. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is publishing 
two information collecting forms for its Voting System Testing and 
Certification Program. The information collected is to be used to 
improve the quality of voting systems used in federal elections. 
Participation in this program is voluntary. The program is mandated by 
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

DATES: Comments should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 60-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Aumayr, Senior Election 
Technology Specialist, Testing and Certification Program, Washington, 
DC, (301) 563-3919. All requests and submissions should be identified 
by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title and OMB Number

    Voting System Manufacturer Registration and Application for 
Testing; OMB Number Pending.

Purpose

    Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal Agencies must obtain 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ``Collection of 
information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and 
includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public 
submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires Federal Agencies to provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed 
collection of information, including each proposed extension of an 
existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to 
OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the EAC is 
publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth 
in this document.
    HAVA requires that the EAC certify and decertify voting systems. 
Section 231(a)(1) of HAVA (52 U.S.C. 20971) specifically requires the 
EAC to ``provide for the testing, certification, decertification and 
recertification of voting system hardware and software by accredited 
laboratories.'' To meet this obligation, the EAC has created a 
voluntary testing and certification program to test voting systems to 
federal voting system standards.
    The program is to publish two forms. An initial manufacturer 
registration form, and a voting system application form. These are to 
be used to collect information from voting system manufacturers who 
wish to participate in the program and the voting systems they intend 
to submit for testing and certification. The registration form collects 
information on the manufacturer ownership, contact details for certain 
directors and senior staff, and

[[Page 12945]]

the manufacturers quality processes. The voting system application 
collects administrative information on new or modified voting systems. 
This information is collected to improve the quality of voting systems 
used in federal elections.

Public Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the EAC to:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Office of Grants Management.
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of burden for this 
proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
    <bullet> Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Annual Reporting Burden

    OMB approval is requested for 3 years.
    Respondents: Voting System Manufacturers.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Estimated Burden in hours--12 hours.
    Estimated Burden cost--$976.

Amanda Joiner,
Acting General Counsel, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 2022-04818 Filed 3-7-22; 8:45 am]
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