APPENDIX 

THE U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

FISCAL YEAR 2015

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT

February 9, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Page

 

I. Overview....................................................................................4 

 Strategic Plan Goals and Organizational Structure Alignment

 Allocation of Costs to Programs

 Performance Data Collection and Validation

 Performance Indicators

II. Goal One – Communicate...............................................................5 

 

 Outcome and Costs

 Areas of Responsibility

 Accomplishments

 Performance Indicators

III. Goal Two – Fund and Oversee.......................................................10

 

 Outcome and Costs

 Areas of Responsibility

 Accomplishments

 Performance Indicators

IV. Goal Three – Study, Guide and Assist...............................................12 

 

 Outcome and Costs

 Areas of Responsibility 

 Accomplishments

 Performance Indicators

V. Goal Four – Test and Certify..........................................................16

 

 Outcome and Costs

 Areas of Responsibility

 Accomplishments 

 Performance Indicators

V. Goal Five – Operate....................................................................19
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Overview

In November 2015, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presented a fiscal year (FY)

2015 Agency Financial Report (AFR). The report described the EAC’s financial results over the 

past year as it pursued its mission to assist the effective administration of Federal elections. The 

report highlights efforts to strengthen internal controls and financial management activities. The 

EAC presented summarized performance data in the AFR, and provides as much detailed data as 

possible in the following Annual Performance Report for FY 2015 in conjunction with the FY 

2017 Congressional Budget Justification. This is the eighth year the EAC has undergone a 

financial statement audit pursuant to the Accountability of Tax Dollar Act of 2002.

Managing for results and producing an Annual Performance Report requires valid, reliable and 

high-quality performance measures and data. In the program areas during FY 2015, the EAC 

made progress in achieving the goals described in its Strategic Plan, which is based on the 

mandates of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

Strategic Plan Goals and Organizational Structure Alignment

The EAC adopted its first five-year Strategic Plan Fiscal Years (FYs) 2009-2015 in March 2009. 

The plan was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget, and presented to the EAC’s 

Board of Advisors and Standards Board for comment. The EAC’s five strategic goals are:

1. Communicate 

Communicate timely and accurate information on the effective administration of elections for 

Federal office and on the operations and services offered by the EAC.

2. Fund and Oversee

 Deliver and manage Federal funds effectively. 

3. Study, Guide and Assist

Identify and develop information on areas of pressing concern regarding the administration of 

elections for Federal office; issue recommended improvements, guidance, translations, and 

best practices as required by HAVA; and carry out responsibilities under the National Voter 

Registration Act. 

4. Test and Certify

Build public confidence in elections by testing and certifying voting systems to improve 

system accessibility, security and functionality.

5. Operate

 Implement a high-performance organization.

The EAC’s program offices are aligned with each of the first four goals in the Plan: 

Communications; Payments and Grants Management and Inspector General; Research, Policy 

and Programs; and Testing and Certification. Goal 5 encompasses costs needed to support the 
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programs such as HAVA-mandated positions, staff needed to comply with federal laws such as 

the Federal Information Management Security Act; rent, information technology and financial 

management services.

Allocation of Costs to the Programs

Costs specifically identified with each of these programs such as assigned personnel costs and 

specific program contract costs are allocated to the programs directly. Other general agency 

overhead is allocated to the programs based on staffing levels of the programs. This 

methodology is outlined in the EAC’s Cost Allocation Model and is reviewed each year by staff 

and independent financial statement auditors to ensure the accurate allocation of expenses to 

each program. 

Performance Data Collection and Validation

Managing for results and producing an Annual Performance Plan requires valid, reliable and 

high-quality performance measures and data. The EAC is committed to the continuous 

improvement of its performance and financial management data. To this end, the EAC verifies 

mandatory source documentation, and documentation of calculation methodology for 

performance indicators to provide reasonable assurance that the reported programmatic 

performance data is relevant and reliable. 

Performance Indicators

The EAC Strategic Plan objectives in the following sections describe the results needed to 

accomplish the five Strategic Goals. Outcomes measure the effect program outputs have on their 

stakeholders. Outputs are quantifiable targets that directly measure the results of a program. A 

program may have multiple outputs but each output is associated with one program. Performance 

measures are quantifiable and documentable representations of a capacity, process or outcome 

that is relevant to the assessment of performance. 

Goal One – Communicate

Strategic Plan Goal 1: Communicate timely and accurate information on the effective 

administration of elections for Federal office and on the operations and services offered by 

the EAC.

Outcome: Congress, Federal agencies, State and local election officials and the 

public receive reliable, accurate, and non-partisan information about the 

administration of Federal elections.

FY 2015 Enacted Budget 

Communications

Direct Costs $483,939

Indirect Costs 736,684 

 Total $1,220,623
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Goal 1’s aim of communication of timely and accurate information is the responsibility of the 

Communications and Clearinghouse division. The goal will be accomplished through three 

objectives: 1) operating the EAC clearinghouse effectively; 2) responding to outside requests 

about the EAC timely and accurately; and 3) conveying the results of the EAC’s operations and 

accomplishments.

Areas of Responsibility

The Communications and Clearinghouse Division is responsible for external communications 

and the tools and platforms used to provide information to election officials and the general 

public. Areas of responsibility include:

• the EAC website and Clearinghouse

• social media 

• media inquiries

• external communications

• Congressional relations

• Freedom of Information Act

• National Archives and Records Act 

• editorial support: press releases, speeches, and Congressional testimony

The agency’s website, www.eac.gov, is the agency’s primary communications tool. Eac.gov 

contains thousands of documents and information about voting systems, press releases, 

informational videos, research, data and program-related information. It also features on-demand 

webcasts and related information from public meetings, hearings and roundtables.

The EAC’s award-winning website features a user-driven notification system, allowing visitors 

to customize how they receive information. Users can customize their online experience by 

signing up for automatic e-mail alerts on a variety of election topics and events, including public 

meetings, advisory board meetings, reports, policies and agency news. These alerts can be 

received in real time on a daily or weekly basis.

FY 2015 Accomplishments

In FY 2015, the Communications and Clearinghouse Division focused efforts on providing 

information and best practices to election officials and voters. The EAC maintained the goal of 

building a community of knowledge and expertise that could save election officials time and 

money in preparation for the 2016 Federal election cycle. Division staff notified stakeholders, 

media, and Congress that the EAC has new commissioners and that a quorum has been restored 

to conduct new policy business.

Website eac.gov 

In FY 2015, division staff maintained: Events finder, a comprehensive presentation of all the 

EAC public events, including meetings, hearings and roundtable discussions; the Accessible 

Voting Resources page; a listserv for the EAC’s newsletter and automatic program updates; and 
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links to state and local election social media sites as they were received. Staff awarded a new 

website contract, and met with the website contractor’s project manager and the EAC’s program 

staff, sought feedback from advisory boards and stakeholders about changes needed before 

launch of the new website, and worked on implementing a new website security project.

Stakeholder Updates

The division publicized four public meetings, a symposium, a roundtable, and a summit; the 

EAC’s educational materials; research products; and program activity updates. Dissemination of 

information occurred via five press releases, 16 newsletters, 23 announcements and Sunshine Act 

Notices, 34 blog posts, Facebook, Twitter account @EACgov, hashtag #EACvote, and 33 EAlert automatic program updates on the EAC website. The information went to election officials; 

Congressional staff; academics; national, state and local media outlets; and other stakeholders. 

The public meetings, symposium, roundtable, and summit were webcast live and featured a live 

Twitterfall. The corresponding meeting agendas, webcasts, reports, and transcripts, as applicable, 

are posted to the website.

Program updates included voting system certification; HAVA payments and grants funding 

charts and statistics, final grant reports, the Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

2014 report and data sets, and other EAC activities and election information.

Blog posts provided periodic election updates and highlight program activities including: the 

EAC’s resources; Voting System Testing Updates; Aging Voting Technology; the EAC-NIST 

Public Working Groups for New Voting System Guidelines; Election Data Summit; 

Commissioner Notes from the Road; Top Ten Priorities of EAC Stakeholders; Listening 

Feedback; Future of Voting Systems Symposium; State/Local Voting Systems Search Map; 

Quick Start Guides & Tips for Election Officials; and ongoing blog posts covering electionrelated topics to answer frequently asked questions and provide critical or time-sensitive 

information to stakeholders and the media. 

Facebook “Likes” increased 628.6 percent from October 2014 through September 2015. The 

number of the EAC’s Twitter followers grew from 1,968 to 2,469.
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Note: screen shot as of October 15, 2015

Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)

• managed the successful completion of the Congressionally-mandated Annual Comprehensive 

Review (ACR) report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2014,

• published Sunshine Act Notices in the Federal Register for the Federal Advisory Committee 

Meetings, 

• The EAC Committee Management Officer staff worked with the EAC’s compliance desk 

officer at the General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) Committee Management 

Secretariat to reactivate the EAC’s three advisory Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 

boards. The process includes: selection of the EAC’s Designated Federal Officers; charters 

and Federal Register Notices; notification of charter filings to the U.S. Senate Rules 

Committee, the Committee on House Administration, and the Library of Congress; posting 

the charters and the Technical Guidelines Development Committee nominations 

announcement on eac.gov, and updating the EAC’s section on the GSA’s FACA website 

with the new charters and documentation.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• completed thirteen FOIA requests for the EAC, 

• responded to two FOIA requests received by other agencies involving communications 

between their employees and the EAC staff. 
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Other

• delivered the EAVS report to Congress and issued a news release.

• submitted Federal Register Notices for publication of two concurring 30-Day Public 

Comment Periods for: 1) the EAC Voting System Testing and Certification Program 

Manual, Version 2.0, and 2) the EAC Voting System Test Laboratory Program Manual, 

Version 2.0. 

Goal 1: Communicate Performance Measures

Note: all indicators are outputs

Performance Indicator FY 2011

Actual

FY 2012

Actual

FY 2013

Actual

FY 2014

Actual

FY 2015

Planned

FY 2015

Actual

Operate the EAC clearinghouse effectively.

Post up-to-date, accurate, relevant and 

consistent information on the website, 

using state-of-the-art technologies within 

24 hours of receipt. 

100% of data posted 

in 24 hours

100% of data 

posted in 24 

hours 

100% of data 

posted in 24 

hours 

100% of data 

posted in 24 

hours

100% of data 

posted in 24 

hours

100% of data 

posted in 24 

hours

Distribute at least one email update per 

month to stakeholders about materials on 

the website.

50 news-letters; 13 

updates

12 updates 

distributed

29 updates 

distributed

36 updates 

distributed

12 updates 

distributed

12 updates 

distributed

Respond to outside requests about the EAC timely and accurately.

Issue policies and procedures to process 

requests from outside the agency.

In final draft

Distribute media, Congressional and other 

stakeholder inquiries and responses to the EAC 

staff when responses are sent.

Inquiries distributed 

on receipt

Inquiries 

distributed on 

receipt

Q&A summaries 

distributed and 

included w/

monthly reports

Q&A 

summaries 

distributed 

and included 

w/ monthly 

reports

Q&A 

summaries 

distributed 

and included 

w/ monthly 

reports

Q&A summaries 

distributed and 

included w/ 

monthly reports

Convey the results of the EAC operations and accomplishments.

Regularly issue blog posts, press releases, 

newsletters, email alerts to subscribers, 

and notifications to stakeholders and staff 

on the EAC’s activities and election 

administration issues.

28 press releases, 

50 newsletters, 52 

weekly staff 

updates, initiated 

blog and twitter 

accounts

4 press releases, 42 

newsletters, 52 

weekly staff 

updates, 3 ongoing 

blogs on election 

topics to answer 

FAQs and provide time-sensitive

data to 

stakeholders 

67 blog posts in 

lieu of press 

releases, 29 

newsletters, 29 

emails to 

subscribers, 52 

weekly staff 

updates

58 blog posts 

in lieu of 

press 

releases, 21 

newsletters, 

36 emails to 

subscribers, 

52 weekly 

staff updates

30 blog posts, 

5 press 

releases, 12 

newsletters,

30 emails to 

subscribers, 

52 weekly 

staff updates

34 blog posts, 5 

press releases, 16 

newsletters, 33 

emails to 

subscribers, 52 

weekly staff 

updates

Provide regular briefings regarding the 

EAC’s activities to Congressional staff.

2 formal briefings 2 formal 

briefings

2 formal 

briefings

2 formal 

briefings

2 formal 

briefings

2 formal 

briefings

Produce the mandated annual report to 

Congress, that accurately captures the

EAC’s activities, by January 31 of each 

year for the preceding year ending 

September 30.

Report disseminated 

1/31/11

Report 

disseminated 

1/31/12

Report 

disseminated 

1/31/13

Report 

disseminated 

1/31/14

Disseminate 

report 1/31/15

Disseminated 

Report 2/3/15
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Goal Two – Fund and Oversee

Strategic Plan Goal 2: Deliver and manage Federal funds effectively.

Outcome: States and other recipients promptly and accurately receive Federal 

funds administered by the EAC and use the funds appropriately to improve the 

administration of elections for Federal office in accordance with HAVA.

Goal 2’s aim of delivering and managing Federal funds effectively is the responsibility of the 

Payments and Grants Management division and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The 

goal will be achieved via three strategic objectives: 1) accurately and timely disburse Federal 

financial assistance administered by the EAC, 2) effectively monitor Federal financial assistance 

administered by the EAC, and 3) provide technical assistance and guidance on the management 

of Federal financial assistance administered by the EAC to reduce the risk of inappropriate use of 

funds and accounting errors.

Areas of Responsibility

The Payments and Grants Management Division:

• provides technical assistance to the States on administering Federal funds;

• awards and monitors discretionary grant programs that have included the College 

Program, Mock Election Program, Military Heroes Initiative, Voting System Pre-Election 

Logic and Accuracy Testing and Post-Election Audit Initiative, the Accessible Voting 

Technology Initiative, and the Election Data Collection Grant Program; 

• processes and disburses payments to States and discretionary grant recipients;

• tracks and reviews the content of financial and performance reports submitted by States 

and discretionary grant recipients;

• reviews and resolves audit findings applicable to the EAC programs; and

• examines amended State Plan submissions.

FY 2015 Accomplishments

In FY 2015, the Payments and Grants Management division disbursed $930,066 to three states 

certifying compliance with the provisions of HAVA. The division provided technical assistance 

FY 2015 Enacted Budgets 

Payments and Grants Management and 

Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

Payments and Grants Management $229,324 

OIG 1,157,241 

Indirect Costs 736,684 

 Total

 

$2,123,249
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to and monitored grant and payment recipients who are responsible for establishing and 

maintaining internal controls that will reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, 

regulations, the provisions of HAVA, and payments and grant agreements. Staff conducted three 

technical assistance and audit-related visits during the year.

The Payments and Grants Management division reviewed final grant financial and narrative 

reports. The division closed the Voting System Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Testing & PostElection Audit Initiative grants, and the Accessible Voting Technology Initiative grants. Further, 

staff closed three Office of the Inspector General audits of state use of HAVA funds, and two 

OMB Circular A-133 single audit reports that presented findings on HAVA funds use in FY 

2015.

Goal 2: Fund and Oversee Performance Measures

Performance Indicator FY 2011

Actual

FY 2012

Actual

FY 2013

Actual

FY 2014

Actual

FY 2015

Planned

FY 2015

Actual

Accurately and timely disburse Federal financial assistance administered by the EAC.

Award payments and grants within 

established timeframes.

All $7M for 2 

accessibility 

grants, and first 

round of L&A at 

$1.5M to 12 

grantees

N/A (no 

quorum)

N/A N/A 100% N/A

Submit State plans for publication in the 

Federal Register within 30 days of receipt 

of the plan.

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Submit payment requests to the Bureau of 

the Fiscal Service within 10 days of receipt 

of acceptable requests/certifications.

100% 100% 99% 100% 100% 100%

Effectively monitor Federal financial assistance administered by the EAC.

Review financial and performance reports 

and notify recipients of reporting 

anomalies or failures to file within 30 days 

of knowledge of conditions in writing in 

all cases and by phone as time permits to 

offer assistance and answer questions.

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Resolve 100 percent of audit findings 

within established time frames.

No overdue 

management 

decisions as of 

9/30/2010

85% audit 

resolution

100% audit 

resolution

88% (7 out of 

8 audits)

100% 

audit resolution

60% 

audit resolution (3 

of 5 audits)

Conduct site visits to at least three high 

priority payments and grant recipients each 

year.

2 site visits 2 site visits 0 site visits 5 site 

visits

3 site 

visits

3 site 

visits

Issue the annual report to Congress on the 

expenditure of HAVA funds with the 

annual Congressional Budget Justification. 

Report issued with 

FY12 

Congressional 

Budget 

Justification (CBJ)

Issue report 

with FY16 CBJ 

Report issued with 

FY16 CBJ 

Provide technical assistance and guidance on the management of Federal financial assistance administered by the EAC to reduce 

the risk of inappropriate use of funds and accounting errors.

Submit all recommended policy and 

guidance concerning the administration of 

Federal financial assistance administered 

by the EAC to the Commissioners within 

established time frames.

Submitted 1 

Advisory Opinion

before quorum 

was lost

N/A N/A N/A 100% 100% -- 10 

Advisory Opinions 

and a policy 

expediting 

responses to 

routine use of 

funds adopted
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1/ Teacher and School Administration Involvement, Sustainability Post Grant and Outreach Efforts for Community Involvement

Note: all indicators are outputs

Goal Three – Study, Guide and Assist

Strategic Plan Goal 3: Identify and develop information on areas of pressing concern 

regarding the administration of elections for Federal office, issue research reports as 

required by HAVA, provide suggested best practices and translations of materials as 

required by HAVA, and carry out responsibilities under the National Voter Registration 

Act (NVRA).

Outcome: As a result of this goal: 1) the elections community and other key 

stakeholders may improve the administration of elections for Federal office based on 

having pertinent, impartial, high-quality information, recommendations, guides, and 

other tools on election and voting issues, and 2) that the national mail voter 

registration for is available to citizens to register to vote, register with a political 

party, or report a change of name, address, or other information.

Goal 3 is administered by the Research, Policy and Programs division. Goal 3 consists of four 

strategic objectives: 1) collect and release data on certain election administration practices, on 

various voting methods and on various voting practices that are useful and required by HAVA; 

2) administer programs and release information which provides timely and useful guidance for 

election officials and voters; and 3) administer the National Mail Voter Registration form.

Areas of Responsibility

The Research, Policy and Programs (RPP) Division: 

• conducts research on election administration topics as mandated by Congress and at the 

discretion of the Commission;

Offer at least one webinar each year. 1 webinar, 2 

presentations, 

series of 

teleconferences for 

the College Poll 

Worker and Mock

Election Programs 

1/ 

1 webinar; 

provided 

technical 

assistance 

(T/A) one-onone for Sec. 

251 funds & 4 

discretionary 

grant programs

Provided T/A 

on a one-onone basis for 

Sec. 251 funds 

and 4 

discretionary 

grant 

programs

1 webinar;

provided T/A 

for Sec. 251 

funds and 2 

discretionary 

grant 

programs

1 webinar Provided T/A on a 

one-on-one basis, 

and in-office T/A

Respond to all phone and email inquiries 

by recipients about the use and 

administration of funds of within 24 hours.

85% 90% 100% 100% 100% 100%

FY 2015 Enacted Budget

Study, Guide and Assist

Direct Costs $1,075,709

Indirect Costs 942,130

 Total $2,107,839
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• administers the biennial Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS);

• administers the National Mail Voter Registration Form as prescribed by the National 

Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), also known as “Motor Voter, updating states’ 

instruction in English and other required languages on eac.gov. Each state, the District of 

Columbia, and the territories have their own instructions on how to complete the form, 

with voter registration rules and regulations. The form is available on eac.gov in seven 

languages;”

• administers the Election Management Guidelines and Quick Tips Program to help 

election officials promote secure, efficient, accurate, and accessible elections by 

providing information on topics such as Ballot Design, Polling Place Management, 

Voting Accessibility, Communicating with the Public, Contingency Planning, Managing 

Change in an Election Office, Media and Public Relations, and Developing an Audit 

Trail for the Verification of Votes;

• manages the Language Accessibility Program to provide informational materials on the 

Federal election process and glossaries of election terminology in English and six other 

required languages, and translates the National Mail Voter Registration Form into ten 

languages other than English; and

• provides materials to voters and election administration officials to facilitate their 

successful participation in Federal elections such as registering to vote. 

Research and reporting is mandated by HAVA on topics such as the impact of the National Voter 

Registration Act of 1993 and on the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act

(UOCAVA) for military and overseas voters’ participation in Federal elections; the feasibility 

and advisability of establishing free absentee ballot return postage; vote recounts and contests;

the feasibility of alternative voting methods such as electronic voting; the voting experiences of 

first-time voters who register to vote by mail; administering elections in urban and rural areas;

and the feasibility and advisability of identifying voters by Social Security Number.

FY 2015 Accomplishments

Research:

• administered the 2014 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), 

• delivered, “The 2014 EAC Election Administration and Voting Survey Comprehensive 

Report” to Congress on June 30, 2015. The report includes a Summary of Key Findings, 

the Report on the Impact of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 on the 

Administration of Elections for Federal Office, and a Survey of Findings of the 

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA),

• made available via the EAC’s website (www.eac.gov) the 2014 EAVS data sets, the 2014 

Statutory Overview (a compilation of each state’s election laws and regulations), and data 

visualizations of the 2014 mid-term elections, e.g.:
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• responded to ongoing inquiries from a variety of stakeholder groups regarding the 2014 

EAVS data,

• in March 2015, the EAC Commissioners formally adopted a study and the findings 

required by the HAVA 241(b)(15) on administering elections in rural and urban areas,

• in August 2015, convened a national Election Data Summit at American University’s 

School of Presidential and Congressional Affairs. The event included a broad range of 

election officials and academics from throughout the United States. Participants

considered best practices and uses of election data, the value to election officials and 

academics of data in election management, and ways to improve the data collected 

through the EAVS, and

• began planning and collaborating with U.S. Department of Defense Federal Voting 

Assistance Program (FVAP) on administrating the 2016 EAVS.

Policy:

• responded to ongoing inquiries from states regarding the interpretation of various NVRA 

requirements,

• received, reviewed, and responded to a request from one state to make certain changes to 

its NVRA state instructions.

Programs:

• created the EAC “Resource Bank” toolkit containing 13 new Quick Tip Guides designed 

to assist election officials with administering elections. The toolkit provides information

on a wide range of topics, such as managing change, using election data, employing poll 
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workers, administering provisional ballots, serving UOCAVA voters, and educating 

voters. The toolkit also includes Facts on Voting in Federal Elections in seven languages, 

hyperlinks to certain election administration best practice materials, and a series of guides

to help promote discussion around various election administration topics,

• distributed over 300 toolkits at state election administrator association conferences held 

over the summer and early fall of 2015,

• began developing two new Quick Tip Guides related to serving voters with disabilities.

• began a process for updating the Successful Practices for Poll Worker Recruitment, 

Training and Retention Guidebook. The new guidebook is planned for release for use in 

the 2016 Federal election cycle, and

• began a process for updating the EAC’s six foreign language glossaries of election terms.

Goal 3: Study, Guide, Assist Performance Measures

Performance Indicator FY 2011

Actual

FY 2012

Actual

FY 2013

Actual

FY 2014

Actual

 FY2015

Planned

FY2015

Actual

Collect and release data on certain election administration practices, on various voting methods and on various voting practices 

that are useful and required by HAVA.

Meet milestones for the completion 

of research projects in accordance 

with schedules and deliverables each 

year. Disseminate completed 

research reports to stakeholders.

Worked on: 1)

Recounts and Contests 

Study; 2) Best 

Practices for 

Provisional Voting, 3) 

study on Use of Social 

Security Numbers 

(SSNs) for 

Voter Registration

Produced final drafts

of: 1) study on the 

Use of SSNs for 

Purposes of Voter 

Registration; 2) study 

on Recounts and 

Contests

N/A N/A Meet milestones, 

disseminate 

reports.

100%. Adopted

and disseminated 

the mandated 

HAVA 

241(b)(15) 

Urban Rural 

Study Report

Issue required reports (UOCAVA, 

NVRA-- collection of voter 

registration data to fulfill reporting 

requirements to Congress on the 

NVRA) to Congress by statutory 

deadlines, including 

recommendations to improve 

election data collection and data 

provided to Congress in the biennial 

report on the Election 

Administration and Voting Survey.

3 reports submitted 

6/30/2011

N/A 3 reports 

submitted 

6/30/2013

N/A Submit 1 

consolidated 

report by 

6/30/2015

1 consolidated 

report submitted 

6/30/2015

Administer programs and release information which provides timely and useful guidance for election officials and voters.

Produce and distribute Quick Tip

Guides (concise tips on a wide range 

of election topics with links to best 

practices in the administration of 

Federal elections) and Guidebooks.

Conducted 3 

teleconferences with 

the EAC College Poll 

Worker and Mock

Election grantees to 

solicit feedback for 

updating the 

Guidebook for 

Recruiting College 

Poll

Workers

Developed a guide,

“Voting Tips To 

Enhance Your 

Voting Experience,” 

and distributed 

30,000 copies to the 

55 State election 

offices. 

Created and 

widely 

distributed, 

“Voter 

Tips”cards;

conducted 9

webinars for 

election 

officials on Best 

Practices in 

Election Mgt.

Data gathered 

used for new 

Quick Tips

Published 4 

new 

downloadable 

Quick Tips 1/; 

wrote & 

posted fliers: 

10 Tips to 

Enhance Your 

Voting 

Experience,

14 Facts 

About Voting 

in Federal 

Elections

Issue and 

distribute 

new Quick 

Tip Guides

Wrote and posted 

to eac.gov fliers 

on “10 Tips to 

Enhance Your 

Voting 

Experience” and 

“14 Facts About 

Voting in Federal 

Elections” (in 7 

languages); 

issued 13 new 

Quick Tip 

Guides in a 

toolkit &

distributed 300 

sets to state 

election 
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1/ Managing the Voting Process; Educating Voters; Poll Worker Recruitment and Training, and Why Good Data Matters

Note: all indicators are outputs

Goal Four – Test and Certify

Strategic Plan Goal 4: Build public confidence in elections by testing and certifying 

voting systems to improve system accessibility, security and functionality.

Outcome: Voting equipment that operates more reliably and securely, and is more 

accessible to individuals with disabilities. States voluntarily participate in the EAC 

testing and certification program to help ensure voting systems meet the Voluntary 

Voting System Guidelines Standards (VVSG), and voting system manufacturer 

specifications.

Goal 4 is administered by the Voting System Testing and Certification division. The goal 

consists of three strategic objectives: 1) develop and update the voluntary voting system 

guidelines (VVSG); 2) provide for the accreditation of independent laboratories qualified to test 

voting systems to Federal standards, and for the revocation of accreditation as appropriate; and 

3) administer the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system 

hardware and software by accredited laboratories. 

Areas of Responsibility

Under the Help America Vote Act, the EAC accredits voting system test laboratories and 

certifies voting equipment, marking the first time the Federal government has offered these 

administrators

Provide translations of election 

materials.

Revised A Voter’s 

Guide to Federal 

Elections, translated 

into 9 languages, 

USCIS distributed 

700,000+ copies to 

new citizens; posted 

searchable online

Glossaries of Election 

Terminology

Researched new 

jurisdictions and 

languages covered by 

Sec. 203 Voting 

Rights Act per 2010 

Census. Considered 

its application to 

minority language 

resources

Widely 

distributed, 

“Voter’s 

Guides to 

Elections”

N/A Provide 

translations 

of election 

materials

N/A

Administer the National Mail Voter Registration Form.

Review and approve NVRAcompliant State requests to change 

State-specific instructions on the 

National Mail Voter Registration 

form.

N/A Reviewed and 

approved 7 requests

Reviewed and 

approved 1

request, 

responded to 3

additional

requests

Reviewed 

and 

approved 2

requests, 

responded to 

3 additional 

requests

Review and 

approve 

requests 

Reviewed and 

responded to 1 

request

FY 2015 Enacted Budget 

Testing and Certification 

Direct Costs $ 896,580

Indirect Costs 1,841,709

 Total $ 2,738,289
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

17

services to the States. Participation by States in the program is voluntary. Staff works with the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to evaluate and accredit voting system 

test laboratories and management of the voting system certification process.

The Testing and Certification Division:

• supports local elections officials in the areas of engineering change order (ECO) updates, 

acceptance testing and pre-election system verification for EAC-certified systems, 

issuance of Requests for Procurement (RFPs) and information on how to maintain aging 

voting technology;

• increases quality control in voting system manufacturing by means of periodic 

manufacturing facility audits of EAC-registered manufacturers; and

• provides procedures to voting system manufacturers for the testing and certification of 

voting systems to specified Federal standards as required by HAVA Section 231(a)(1)

Certification and Testing of Voting Systems.

The EAC’s voting system certification program establishes accountability through its Quality 

Monitoring Program which ensures, through various check points, that the voting systems used 

in the field are the same systems the EAC has certified. For instance, under the program, the 

EAC has the ability to conduct site visits to production facilities to determine whether systems 

produced are consistent with those that have received the EAC certification. In addition, the EAC 

collects reports from election officials regarding voting system anomalies. The EAC reviews the 

reports, and disseminates the anomaly information to election officials. Furthermore, upon 

invitation or with permission from election officials, the EAC conducts reviews of systems that 

are in use in the field.

FY 2015 Accomplishments

In FY 2015 in the area of voting system testing and certification, the EAC:

• certified six voting systems,

• managed testing campaigns for three additional systems (testing was not completed as of 

the date of this report),

• drafted and published three Requests for Interpretation (RFIs) to the Voluntary Voting 

System Guidelines (VVSG), and drafted two additional RFI’s,

• completed editorial changes and presented for Commission vote (and ultimate adoption), 

Version 2.0 of both the Testing & Certification Program Manual, and the Voting System 

Test Laboratory Program Manual,

• completed editorial changes and presented for Commissioner vote (and ultimate 

adoption), Version 1.1 of the EAC Voluntary Voting System Guidelines,

• continued development of state requirements-mapping, and implemented major updates 

to the EAC’s Virtual Review Tool,

• audited one voting system manufacturing facility,

• developed a new series of guidance documents entitled Managing Election Technology, 

and published the first two documents in this series,
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

18

• assisted state and local election officials by collecting and posting closed state and local 

Request for Procurement documents for both voting systems and electronic pollbooks on 

the EAC website, 

• held an in-person Technology Testing Agreement meeting between the EAC, a Voting 

System Test Laboratory (VSTL) and a non-traditional voting system manufacturer,

• worked with NIST staff on the re-organization of the EAC Technical Guidelines 

Development Committee (TGDC), and

• held an EAC VSTL Meeting and a Voting System Manufacturers Meeting. 

Goal 4: Test and Certify Performance Measures

Performance Indicator FY 2011

Actual 

FY 2012 

Actual

FY 2013 

Actual

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Planned 

FY 2015 

Actual

Develop and update the VVSG.

Produce updates to the VVSG. Performed 

ongoing work

with NIST to 

complete revision 

to VVSG 1.1

Received a revised 

version of VVSG 

1.1 from NIST, 

incorporated NIST 

comments and new 

Requests For 

Interpretation 

(RFIs) into the 

guidelines; posted 

the 2nd draft version 

for Public Comment 

Received public 

comments on 2nd

draft revision to 

VVSG 1.1, 

worked with 

NIST to resolve 

comments and 

prepare VVSG 

1.1 revised draft 

for final 

formatting

Pending 

adoption

Adopt VVSG 

1.1

Adopted VVSG 

1.1; initiated 

development of 

next generation 

VVSG 

document; 

created a 

working group 

plan w/TGDC &

NIST to focus on 

subjects 

Provide for the accreditation of independent laboratories qualified to test voting systems to Federal standards, and for the 

revocation of accreditation as appropriate.

Meet or exceed the review and 

response timeframes related to 

laboratory accreditation or reaccreditation submissions contained 

in the Certification Division 

Standard Operating Procedures 

(SOPs) and Voting System Test 

Laboratory Program Manual.

N/A Published 2 

Notices of 

Clarification to 

Program Manuals

N/A Published 3

Notices of 

Clarification 

to Program 

Manuals

100% 

complete in 90 

days

100% complete 

in 90 days; 

updated the Test 

Lab Program 

Manual

Complete accreditation audits for all 

laboratories recommended to the 

EAC by NIST and for all emergency 

actions within 90 days.

75% complete w/ in 

90 days

50%--1 of 2 lab 

re-accreditation 

audits complete 

w/in 90 days; 

performed 1 initial 

lab audit

100% --1 lab reaccreditation 

audit complete 

w/in 90 days

100%--2 lab 

reaccreditation audits 

complete w/in 

90 days, and a 

follow-up to 

an initial new 

lab accreditation audit

conducted

100% 

complete w/in 

90 days

N/A No 

reaccreditation 

audits conducted 

in FY15. 1 

review 

conducted 

11/2015 w/in 120 

days

Test and document the results of the 

review of compliance with 

procedures by 100 percent of 

accredited laboratories every 2 

years.

100%. Participated 

in 1 lab audit

100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Administer the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software by accredited 

laboratories.

Test and certify voting systems. Certified 1 full 

system, and 1 

system 

modification; 

performed testing 

for 11 voting 

systems and system

modifications

Certified 4 voting 

systems and 

published a 

certification 

timeline for a fifth 

system; conducted 

testing campaigns 

for 4 systems 

Certified 3 

voting systems; 

conducted test 

campaigns for 7 

systems

Certified 6 

voting 

systems; 

worked on 

test 

campaigns 

for 5 systems

Certify and test 

voting systems

Certified 6 

voting systems; 

managed test 

campaigns for 3 

systems
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

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Meet or exceed the review and 

response timeframes to voting 

system manufacturer and VSTL 

submissions contained in the 

Certification Division SOP’s and 

Testing Certification Program 

Manual.1/

20 days or less 

for initial Test 

Plans/Reports; 

10 days or less 

for amended 

Test 

Plans/Reports

100% w/in 20 

days or less for 

initial Test 

Plans/Reports; 

10 days or less 

for amended Test 

Plans/Reports

Meet or exceed a one business day 

response timeframe for requests for 

assistance with EAC-certified voting 

system anomalies from State or local 

election officials.1/

1 business day 

response time

100% -- 1 

business day 

response or less

Conduct at least one audit of a 

manufacturing facility of a 

registered manufacturer at least once 

every 4 years.

N/A 100%--audited 1 

voting system 

manufacturing 

facility

N/A. No new 

voting systems 

manufactured in 

2013

100% --

completed 2 

audits of 

voting system 

manufacturing facilities, 

and 2 Manufacturing 

Quality 

Assurance 

Audits

Conduct at 

least 1 

manufacturing 

facility review

100% --

conducted 1

audit

Plan to conduct field reviews for at 

least 50 percent of jurisdictions that 

volunteer for reviews.

Reviewed 100% 

of jurisdictions

requesting reviews

Reviewed 100% of 

jurisdictions

requesting reviews

N/A. No requests 

were made in FY 

2013

N/A. No 

requests were 

made in FY 

2014

Review at least 

75% of 

jurisdictions

requesting 

review

N/A. No requests 

were made in 

FY15

Respond to requests for 

interpretations (RFIs) of voting 

system standards within 45 days .

48 days 67% -- 4 responded 

to 4 of 6 RFIs in 45 

days or less, 53.5 

day average 

response time

50% - responded 

to 3 of 6 RFIS in 

45 days or less, 

60.25 day

average response 

time

100% -

responded to 

4 RFIs w/in 

45 days

100% response 

in 45 days or 

less

100% --

responded to 3 

RFIs w/in 45 

days; drafted 2 

RFIs

1/New measure in FY 2015

Note: all indicators are outputs

Goal Five Operate

Strategic Plan Goal 5: Implement a high performance organization.

Outcome: The EAC commissioners and staff proficiently and efficiently carry out the 

EAC’s strategic objectives. 

Goal 5 consists of three strategic objectives: 1) improve performance; 2) strengthen internal 

controls; and 3) maximize efficiencies. Key performance measures are to implement 90 percent of 

OIG audit recommendations within agreed-upon timeframes, and to meet and exceed annual 

performance measures.

FY 2015 Accomplishments

To improve effectiveness and efficiency, the EAC’s Presidentially-appointed Senate-confirmed 

Commissioners spent a great deal of time meeting with the election community including: the

EAC’s Standards Board and Board of Advisors members; state and local election officials; 

national and international election associations; State legislators; attorney associations; 

academics; computer scientists; electrical and electronics engineers; the Federal Voting 

Assistance Program; voting system manufacturers; and advocacy groups. The meetings have 
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

20

resulted in a broad range of information-gathering that has provided for the development of 

setting goals tied to the mandates of the agency and assisting election officials. The listening 

sessions help the agency better understand expectations and needs of the States, the election 

community, voters, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders.

The measure to obtain an unmodified audit opinion on agency financial statements was achieved 

in FY 2015. On the performance measure on implementing audit recommendations, to date, only 

two percent of the 82 operational recommendations remain open. On the metric regarding 

meeting annual performance measures, management works to foster a culture of accountability 

among staff. The agency seeks to improve staff satisfaction ratings and achieve management 

excellence through continuous improvement of internal controls. Agency directors responsible 

for implementation of the EAC Strategic Plan goals report on their division metrics for: 1) the 

Agency Financial Report each November, 2) the Annual Performance Report, along with the 

Congressional Budget Justification, usually in February each year, and 3) actual and planned 

metrics in the OMB Budget Justification each September. 

The EAC continues to focus on resolution of issues identified in audits, setting up sound systems 

and policies and procedures, working with managers on the relationship between budget and 

performance, maximizing efficient use of staff and financial resources, and training the EAC’s

staff on financial management processes and their specific, individual responsibilities. Staff 

completes assessable unit risk assessment questionnaires and individual letters of assurance. The 

risk assessments and letters are reviewed by the Executive Director and the Chief Financial 

Officer, and rolled into the agency’s Annual Statement of Assurance presented in this report.

In FY 2015, the EAC provided financial management tools and support to staff. All staff was 

offered Appropriations Law training on-site. Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) were 

provided accrual training. CORs have access to free online training on invoice approval and on 

contracting responsibilities. 

To improve effectiveness and efficiency, the EAC transferred financial, procurement and travel 

services to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Treasury is one of the four agencies chosen for the 

effort to eliminate Federal duplication and enable agencies to direct more resources from 

administrative expenses to programs. Agency staff is able to utilize four automated systems 

(procurement, travel, purchase card, and time and attendance) via interagency agreements. 

The EAC moved to smaller, open office space (17,548 square feet in FY 2013 to 6,000 square 

feet in FY 2014), and stores most records electronically or inexpensively at the National 

Archives and Records Administration Federal Records Center to comply with federal guidelines 

and to save taxpayers’ money. The EAC continued its commitment made in October 2010 to 

reduce staff, and has reassigned functions internally and uses the services of other agencies to 

obtain efficiencies of scale. 

The agency is set up to participate in telecommuting, which provides the added benefit of 

equipping the EAC with the ability to deal with any continuity of operations disruptions. Staff 

are provided with a secure “virtual office” of email data. Personal and shared computer drive 

files and folders are accessible remotely.
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

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 Goal 5: Operate Performance Measures

Note: all indicators are outputs

Performance Indicator FY 2010 

Actual

FY 2011

Actual

FY 2012

Actual

FY 2013

Actual

FY 2014

Actual

FY 2015

Planned

FY 2015 

Actual

Implement a high performance organization-improve performance, strengthen internal controls, and maximize efficiencies.

Obtain an unmodified (“clean”) 

opinion on the annual agency financial 

statement audit.

Clean opinion

received 

Clean opinion

received

Disclaimer 

opinion 

received

Disclaimer 

opinion 

received

Clean 

opinion 

received

Clean 

opinion 

received

Received 

unmodified 

“clean” 

opinion with 

no findings

Implement 90 percent of the Office of 

the Inspector General financial 

statement and operational audit 

recommendations within agreed upon 

timeframes.

77% of 

outstanding 

operational 

recommendations were 

resolved

100% of FY10 

financial 

recommendations 

implemented on 

time; 97.6% of 

operations audit 

recs. made prior 

to FY10 

resolved (2 of 

82 outstanding)

97.6% of 

operational 

audit 

recommendations 

resolved 

97.6% of 

operational 

audit 

recommendations 

resolved 

97.6% of 

operational 

audit 

recommendations 

resolved 

100% 97.6% of 

operational 

audit recommendations 

resolved
 U. S. Election Assistance Commission

 Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Performance Report

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