OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 i 

 

U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION (EAC) 

2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) 

The ongoing process of improving America’s election systems relies in part on having accurate data 

about the way Americans cast their ballots. In 2002, Congress chartered the U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission (EAC) to collect information on the state of American elections and make it widely 

available to policymakers, advocates, scholars, journalists and the general public. Since 2004, the 

Commission has sponsored a biennial survey as its primary tool for fulfilling that mission. We are 

pleased to present the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), and we ask for your 

help in making it the most complete and accurate survey in its history.

The questions below ask for information about ballots cast, voter registration, overseas and military 

voting, Election Day activities, voting technology, and other important issues.

The section concerning the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act (UOCAVA) serves as the 

EAC’s standardized format for state reporting of UOCAVA voting information as required by 52

U.S.C. §20302. States that complete and timely submit this section to the EAC will fulfill their 

UOCAVA reporting requirement under 52 U.S.C. §20302(c).

Additionally, EAC is mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to collect information 

from states concerning the impact of that statute on the administration of federal elections. With 

this information, EAC is required to make a report to Congress and provide recommendations for 

the improvement of federal and state procedures, forms, and other NVRA matters. States that 

respond in a timely manner to all questions in this survey concerning voter registration-related 

matters will meet their NVRA reporting requirements under 52 U.S.C. § 20508 and EAC 

regulations. 

The EAC recognizes the burden that asking for these data places on state and local election officials, 

and we have worked to minimize that burden as much as possible. In advance, we thank you for your 

cooperation and look forward to answering any questions you might have.

Information supplied by:

Name Title

Office/Agency Name

Address 1

Address 2

City State Zip Code

Email Address Telephone
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 ii

Table of Contents 

Instructions for Completing the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey ................................. 1

Section A: Voter Registration .................................................................................................................... 2

Total Registrations: Questions A1 and A2..............................................................................................2

A1. Total Number Registered and Eligible Persons, Active and Inactive..........................................3

A2. Same Day Voter Registration........................................................................................................4

Registration Forms Processed: Questions A3–A7 .................................................................................4

A3. Total Registration Forms Processed: 2018 to 2020...................................................................4

A4–A7. Total Registration Forms Processed, by Source ...................................................................6

Confirmation of Registration Notices and Removals: Questions A8 and A9........................................8

A8. Total Confirmation of Registration Notices Sent to Voters .........................................................8

A9. Total Voters Removed from Registration Rolls: 2018 to 2020............................................... 10

Section B: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)...................................... 11

UOCAVA Voters Registered and Eligible: Question B1........................................................................ 12

B1. Total Registered and Eligible UOCAVA Voters........................................................................... 13

FPCAs Received, Accepted, and Rejected: Questions B2–B4 ........................................................... 14

B2. Federal Post Card Applications Received ................................................................................. 14

B3. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected.................................................................................. 15

B4. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected Because Late.......................................................... 15

UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted: Questions B5–B8 ................................................................................ 16

B5–B8. UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted to Voters .............................................................................. 16

UOCAVA Ballots Returned: Questions B9–B13................................................................................... 17

B9–B12. Transmitted Ballots Returned by Voters: Postal Mail, Email, Other .............................. 17

B13: Ballots Returned Undeliverable .............................................................................................. 18

UOCAVA Ballots Counted: Questions B14–B17.................................................................................. 19

B14–B17. Transmitted Ballots Counted: Postal Mail, Email, Other.............................................. 19

UOCAVA Ballots Rejected: Questions B18–B22 ................................................................................. 20

B18–22. Total Number of UOCAVA Ballots Rejected and Reasons for Rejection ........................ 20

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots: Questions B23–B27 ................................................................... 21

B23–B27. Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots Received, Counted, and Rejected ........................ 21

Section C: Domestic Civilian By-Mail Voting .......................................................................................... 22

Transmitted Civilian By-Mail Ballots: Questions C1–C2 ..................................................................... 22

C1. Total By-Mail Ballots Transmitted.............................................................................................. 23

C2. Ballots Sent to Permanent By-Mail Voters................................................................................ 24

Returned and Rejected Ballots: Questions C3–C4............................................................................. 24
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 iii

C3. Total Number of By-Mail Ballots Returned and Counted......................................................... 24

C4. Number of By-Mail Ballots Rejected, by Reason Rejected ...................................................... 25

Section D: In-Person Voting and Polling Operations ............................................................................. 26

Total In-Person Voting: Question D1.................................................................................................... 26

D1. Total In-Person Voting................................................................................................................ 26

Precincts and Polling Places: Questions D2–D4 ................................................................................ 27

D2. Total Number of Precincts ......................................................................................................... 27

Poll Workers: Questions D5–D7 .......................................................................................................... 28

D5–D6. Total Number of Poll Workers ............................................................................................ 28

D7. Age of Poll Workers .................................................................................................................... 29

D8. Ease of Recruiting Poll Workers ................................................................................................ 29

Section E: Provisional Ballots ................................................................................................................ 30

Provisional Ballots Submitted and Rejected: Questions E1 and E2.................................................. 31

E1. Total Provisional Ballots Submitted and Adjudication ............................................................. 31

E2. Reasons Provisional Ballots Rejected....................................................................................... 32

Section F: Voter Participation and Election Technologies .................................................................... 33

Questions F1 and F2............................................................................................................................. 33

F1. Total Participation in the 2020 Election ................................................................................... 34

F2. Source of Data on Total Participation in the 2020 Election .................................................... 35

Poll Books: Questions F3–F4............................................................................................................... 36

F3–F4. Use of Electronic and Paper Poll Books ............................................................................. 36

Voting Technologies: Questions F5–F11............................................................................................. 37

F5–F11. Voting Equipment Used..................................................................................................... 37

Location of Vote Tally: Question F12 ................................................................................................... 40

F12. Location for Where Votes are Tallied ...................................................................................... 40

F13. General Comments .................................................................................................................. 41
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 1 

Instructions for Completing the 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey 

1. This survey collects information on election administration issues in local election offices that are 

responsible for the administration of the November 2020 general election. All data should be 

reported at the level of the local jurisdiction. However, the state- or territorial-level election office 

may fill out any or all of the information on behalf of the local election offices under its 

jurisdiction. 

2. You will find it helpful to read an entire section before answering any of the questions in that 

section. 

3. Do not leave items blank—always provide an answer to the question asked. If needed, use the 

“Data not available,” “Does not apply,” or “Other” categories discussed below. Please use the 

comment boxes as needed to provide us with additional information regarding how you 

answered the questions, including any explanations about the quality of the data you are 

providing. This will help us analyze and present the data more accurately. Your explanations do 

not need to be detailed or lengthy; we can contact you for further information if needed. 

4. Please attempt to record data according to the categories as they are defined in the question. If

your jurisdiction uses a different data classification scheme (for instance, your jurisdiction 

collects data in such a way that combines two or more categories listed in a question), then you 

can use the space provided for “Other” to provide numbers and details on these categories. If 

you report information in the “Other” field, please use the comment boxes to provide an 

explanation for the answer.
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 2 

Section A: Voter Registration 

The goal of Section A is to understand the ways in which individuals registered to vote in each 

jurisdiction between 2018 and 2020, and the efforts made to remove individuals who should no 

longer be registered.

This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:

1. How many individuals were registered to vote for the 2020 general election?

2. How many voter registration forms were processed from the close of registration for the 

2018 general election through the close of registration for the 2020 general election?

3. How many confirmations of registration notifications did your jurisdiction send to registered 

voters from the close of registration for the 2018 general election through the close of 

registration for the 2020 general election? 

4. How many registered voters were removed from the voter registration rolls from the close of 

registration for the 2018 general election through the close of registration for the 2020

general election?

EAC is mandated by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to collect information from states 

concerning the impact of that statute on the administration of federal elections. With this 

information EAC is required to make a report to Congress and provide recommendations for the 

improvement of federal and state procedures, forms, and other NVRA matters. States that 

respond in a timely manner to all questions in this survey concerning voter registration-related 

matters will meet their NVRA reporting requirements under 52 U.S.C. § 20508 and EAC 

regulations. 

Total Registrations: Questions A1 and A2 

Questions A1 and A2 ask about individuals who were registered and eligible to vote in the 2020

general election. This includes all individuals who were registered to vote and included on the final 

voter registration rolls for the election. For states with Election Day voter registration, include all 

individuals who registered to vote through the close of the polls on Election Day. 

Please DO NOT include: 

• Individuals who registered to vote after the close of registration for the 2020 general election 

and were not be eligible to vote in the election, or 

• Persons under the age of 18 registered under a pre-registration program.

If your jurisdiction’s number includes any special groups or situations that we should be aware of, 

please use the A1 Comments box to explain. 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 3 

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section A. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does

not have inactive voters —please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to question A1c.

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data

necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have inactive voters but

your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as the

response to the question.

A1. Total Number Registered and Eligible Persons, Active and Inactive 

For question A1, report the total number of people (not votes or ballots) who were registered and 

eligible to vote in the November 2020 general election. If your jurisdiction differentiates between 

active and inactive voters, report the number of active voters in A1b and inactive voters in A1c. If 

your state does not make this differentiation, report your total number of registered voters again in 

A1b and enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to A1c. The sum of active voters in A1b and inactive 

voters in A1c should equal the total number of registered voters reported in A1a.

Type of Registered Voter Total 

A1a. TOTAL number of registered and eligible voters:

Do not include any persons under the age of 18 who may be registered 

under a pre-registration program or registered after the 2020 deadline for 

registration. 

A1b. TOTAL number of active voters: 

Fully eligible voters who have no additional processing requirements to 

fulfill before voting.

A1c. TOTAL number of inactive voters: 

Voters who remain eligible to vote but require address verification under 

the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act.

A1 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 4 

A2. Same Day Voter Registration 

For question A2, report the number of individuals who utilized same day voter registration for the 

2020 general election. This question includes jurisdictions in states that have formal Election Day 

registration or same day registration and those states that have other situations that provide 

Election Day registration or same day registration. This question also includes jurisdictions in states 

that permit Election Day registration for voting for office of President, such as Alaska and Rhode 

Island. Note that this question is about registration forms, and not ballots cast or votes. 

If your state’s laws allowed any voters to register and then vote on the same day—including same day 

registration occurring because of an overlap between early voting and the close of voter 

registration—report the total number of registration forms received on those days in which it was

possible to both register for and vote in the November 2020 general election on the same day in 

A2a. For questions A2b and A2c, separate the total number of same day registrations that was 

reported in A2a into those received on Election Day and those received prior to Election Day. These 

amounts should sum to the total provided in A2a. If you are unable to distinguish between these 

categories or are unable to provide this breakdown, complete A2a and enter -99 (negative 99, or 

data not available) for A2b-A2c. If data is reported in A2b and A2c, the sum of these two items 

should equal the total number of same day registrations reported in A2a.

Type of Same Day Registration Total

A2a. TOTAL same-day registrations received

A2b. Same-day registrations received on Election Day

A2c. Same-day registrations received prior to Election Day (e.g., during 

early voting)

A2 Comments: 

Registration Forms Processed: Questions A3–A7 

These questions ask about the number of registration forms processed in your jurisdiction from the 

close of registration for the November 2018 general election through the close of registration for the 

November 2020 general election. For example, a state with a voter registration deadline of 15 days 

before Election Day should include all forms received 14 days before the 2018 Election Day through 

15 days before the 2020 Election Day. In states with same day voter registration or Election Day 

registration, all registrations received after the close of the polls on Election Day in 2018 until the 

close of the polls on Election Day 2020 should be included in your answers.

A3. Total Registration Forms Processed: 2018 to 2020 

For question A3a, report the total number of forms your jurisdiction received from all sources during 

the period from the close of registration for the November 2018 general election until the close of 

registration for the November 2020 general election. Include any forms that were processed, such 

as changes to name, party or address, duplicates, or pre-registrations. If applicable, also include 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 5 

here any Election Day or same day registrations and any registrations from special categories of 

voters who may have extended voter registration deadlines, such as returning military personnel. 

Then, divide the total number of forms received (A3a) into the categories listed in A3b through A3g. 

Use item A3h for any registration forms that cannot be placed into any of the categories specified in 

A3b through A3g. 

Registrations from Election Day and special category voters should be included in the appropriate 

category (e.g., new valid registration or change of name).

Type of Registration Form Received Total 

A3a. TOTAL registration forms received: 

All registration forms received between the close of registration for the 

November 2018 general election and the close of registration for the 

November 2020 general election.

A3b. New valid registrations (excluding pre-registrations of persons under 

18): 

All successful registrations that were not invalidated or rejected and did 

not duplicate or modify a previously existing registration in the jurisdiction.

A3c. New pre-registrations of persons under age 18:

All registrations submitted by persons under the age of 18 years so that 

they will be registered when they become of voting age.

A3d. Duplicates of existing valid registrations:

Applications to register to vote submitted by persons already registered to 

vote at the same address, under the same name and personal information 

(e.g., date of birth, social security number, driver’s license), and the same 

political party (where applicable).

A3e. Invalid or rejected (other than duplicates):

Registrations that did not meet the requirements of eligibility because they 

were not completed properly or the individual was excluded from being 

able to register in a jurisdiction.

A3f. Changes to name, party, or within-jurisdiction address change:

Registrations that modified or edited voter information for individuals with 

current valid registrations.

A3g. Address changes that cross jurisdiction borders:

Registrations that modified or edited the address of persons with current 

valid registrations, where the address change places them in a different 

jurisdiction (such as a different county) from their current registration.

A3h. Other:

A3i. Other:

A3j. Other: 

A3 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 6 

A4–A7. Total Registration Forms Processed, by Source 

For question A4, divide the total number of voter registration forms reported in question A3a 

according to source of the form. Then, for each source, divide the forms into the categories of new 

registrations (A5), duplicates of an existing registration (A6), and invalid or rejected registrations 

(A7). 

Questions A6 and A7 are mutually exclusive—duplicate registrations included in A6 should not be 

included as invalid or rejected registrations in A7, and vice versa. 

For items a–l, it is important to focus on the mode used to submit the registration application. These 

modes are intended to be mutually exclusive. For example, if the voter submits a registration form 

online using the state’s online voter registration portal, this is an online voter registration and the 

total number received would be put in A4c. This would be considered an online voter registration 

even if the voter accessed the online voter registration system at a state public assistance office or 

at the office of an agency that primarily serves individuals with disabilities. In addition, it does not 

matter which agency hosts the voter registration system. For example, if your state motor vehicle 

office hosts the online voter registration system, then applications using the system are still online 

voter registration applications, not an application from the motor vehicle office. 

For A4c—A7c (registrations submitted via the internet), only include registration forms that were 

completed and submitted through a web-based online voter registration system. A form that was 

filled out online but submitted via email or printed and submitted via mail should be included under 

A4a, A5a, A6a or A7a in row a—“Individual voters submitting applications by mail, fax, or email.”

Same-day registrations should be categorized according to the mode used to submit the registration 

application. For example, if a voter submits a same-day registration form at an election/registrar’s 

office, this would be considered an individual voter registering in person at the election/registrar’s 

office and would be put in A4b. If a voter submits a same-day registration form at a polling place, this 

would be considered a separate category and should be entered under “other” in either A7j, A7k, or 

A7l. 

[See next page]
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 7 

A4a through A4l: Divide the total number of all registration forms received (as reported in A3a) into the following sources.

A5a through A5l: Divide the total number of new registration forms received (as reported in A3b) into the following sources. 

A6a through A6l: Divide the total number of duplicate registration forms received (as reported in A3d) into the following sources. 

A7a through A7l: Divide the total number of invalid or rejected registration forms (as reported in A3e) received into the following sources. 

A4. Total forms 

received 

A5. New registrations A6. Duplicates of 

existing registrations 

A7. Invalid or rejected 

TOTAL A3a A3b A3d A3e

a. Individual voters submitting 

applications by mail, fax, or email

b. Individual voters registering in person 

at the election/registrar’s office

c. Individual voters submitting forms via 

web-based online registration system

d. Motor vehicle offices or other offices 

that issue driver’s licenses (this 

would include automatic registration)

e. Public assistance offices mandated 

as registration sites under NVRA

f. State-funded agencies primarily 

serving persons with disabilities

g. Armed forces recruitment offices

h. Other agencies designated by the 

state not mandated by NVRA

i. Registration drives from advocacy 

groups or political parties

j. Other: 

k. Other: 

l. Other: 

A4–A7 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 8 

Confirmation of Registration Notices and Removals: Questions A8 and A9 

These questions ask about the total number of confirmation notices as defined under National Voter 

Registration Act (NVRA) Section 8 (d) (1) (B) and Section 8 (d) (2). Although NVRA distinguishes 

between “confirmation notices” and “removal notices,” some jurisdictions refer to “confirmation 

notices” as “removal notices” or something else. If your state is exempt from NVRA, please provide 

the information on confirmation notices as requested, but explain in the A8 comments box why 

voters received a confirmation notice and include any differences from the NVRA’s definition of 

“confirmation notices.”

A8. Total Confirmation of Registration Notices Sent to Voters 

For question A8a, report the total number of confirmation notices sent to voters in the period 

between the close of registration for the November 2018 general election and the close of 

registration for the November 2020 general election. Examples of situations where confirmation 

notices may be sent include an indication that the registrant no longer resides in the registrar’s 

jurisdiction, or the voter has not voted or appeared to vote in a federal election during the period.

Next, for questions A8b–A8e, divide the total number of confirmation notices mailed (as reported in 

A8a) into the listed categories. Use item A8f for notices that cannot be placed into any of the 

categories specified in A8b–A8e. The amounts should sum to the total provided in A8a. 

[See next page]
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 9 

Type of Confirmation Notice Total 

A8a. TOTAL number of confirmation notices sent to registered voters: 

The total number of confirmation of registration notices sent to voters 

during the time period between the close of registration for the November 

2018 general election through the close of registration for the November 

2020 general election. Include both the notices sent because there was 

an indication that the registrant no longer resides in the jurisdiction and 

the notices sent because the voter has not voted or attempted to vote 

during the two-year period.

A8b. Received back from voters confirming registration: 

The total number of notices returned that confirmed an individual was still 

eligible to vote in the jurisdiction.

A8c. Received back confirming registration should be invalidated: 

The total number of notices returned that confirmed an individual was no 

longer eligible to vote in the jurisdiction or no longer wanted to be 

registered to vote. 

A8d. Returned back as undeliverable: 

The total number of notices returned by the post office because the U.S. 

Postal Service could not deliver the notice.

A8e. Status unknown (neither received confirmation nor returned 

undeliverable): 

Any notice that was sent to a voter but was not received back confirming 

registration (A8b), confirming invalidation (A8c), or returned as 

undeliverable (A8d). 

A8f. Other: 

A8g. Other: 

A8h. Other: 

A8 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 10

A9. Total Voters Removed from Registration Rolls: 2018 to 2020 

For question A9a, report the total number of voters removed from the voter registration rolls in your 

jurisdiction in the period between the close of registration for the November 2018 general election 

and the close of registration for the November 2020 general election. Note that this question asks 

for those ineligible to vote, not those moved into an “inactive” status. 

Next, for questions A9b–A9g, divide the total number of voters removed (as reported in A9a) into the 

categories listed below. The amounts should sum to the total provided in A9a.

Reason for Removal Total 

A9a. TOTAL number of voters removed: 

Include only those completely removed from the list of registered voters, 

not records moved to an inactive list.

A9b. Moved outside jurisdiction

A9c. Death

A9d. Disqualifying felony conviction

A9e. Failure to respond to notice sent and failure to vote in two most 

recent federal elections 

A9f. Declared mentally incompetent

A9g. Voter request to be removed for reasons other than those listed 

above

A9h. Other:

A9i. Other:

A9j. Other:

A9 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 11

Section B: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) 

The goal of Section B is to understand the voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas 

Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) in your jurisdiction. The questions in this section of the survey 

reflect the need to fully understand the UOCAVA voting process, which serves an important 

population segment of the American electorate. This section of the EAVS asks for five types of data:

1. How many individuals were registered and eligible to vote in 2020 as a UOCAVA voter?

2. How many Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) were received by the election office, how 

many were accepted, and how many were rejected?

3. How many ballots were transmitted to and returned by UOCAVA voters? 

4. How many ballots returned by UOCAVA voters were counted and how many were rejected?

5. How many Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWAB) were received and how many were 

rejected or accepted?

Types of UOCAVA Voters 

UOCAVA serves several populations of U.S. citizens. Below are the UOCAVA voter categories that are 

listed on the FPCA and how they correspond to the voter-type categories that are in this section of 

the survey:

Uniformed Services voters—domestic or 

foreign 

I am a member of the Uniformed Services or 

Merchant Marine on active duty

OR

I am an eligible spouse or dependent

Non-military/civilian overseas voter I am a U.S. citizen residing outside of the United 

States, and I intend to return

I am a U.S. citizen residing outside of the United 

States, and my return is not certain

I am a U.S. citizen and have never resided in 

the United States

It is very important to remember that the spouse or dependent of a Uniformed Services member or 

member of the Merchant Marine is also considered a Uniformed Services voter under UOCAVA. 

Military spouses and dependents should be categorized as Uniformed Services voters, not as civilian 

overseas voters or “Other."

There is a federal definition of UOCAVA and an individual who registers and requests an absentee 

ballot using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is covered by UOCAVA. However, your state may 

cover additional individuals under UOCAVA; for example, a National Guard member activated on 

state orders is often considered a UOCAVA voter under state law. Your state may also allow people to 

request UOCAVA status using a state form or another mechanism. For most of Section B, use your 

state’s definition of UOCAVA to answer the question. For the questions that specifically ask about 

FPCAs, only report data on those voters covered by UOCAVA who submitted an FPCA.
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 12

For 2020, Section B includes the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Post-Election Voting 

Survey of Local Election Officials. In 2014, the EAC incorporated these questions for those states 

reporting UOCAVA voting information as required by 42 U.S.C. §1973ff-1. States that complete 

and submit this section on time to the EAC will fulfill their UOCAVA reporting requirement under 

42 U.S.C §1973ff-1(c). 

Pursuant to UOCAVA, this section collects various data elements needed to determine: (1) the 

combined number of absentee ballots transmitted to UOCAVA voters; (2) the combined number of 

ballots returned by UOCAVA voters; and (3) the combined number of returned ballots cast by 

UOCAVA voters (the number of cast ballots is practically determined by collecting data concerning 

the total votes counted and rejected).

Types of UOCAVA Absentee Ballots 

Section B asks about two types of absentee ballots:

Transmitted ballots: These are ballots your office sent to voters, including ballots sent via postal 

mail, email, fax, or other modes.

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWAB): These are ballots that originated from UOCAVA voters who 

did not receive their requested absentee ballots in time. On the FWAB, the voter lists each office and 

either the candidate’s name or party for whom the voter is casting a vote. FWABs should not be 

reported with transmitted UOCAVA absentee ballots, and are instead reported in questions B23-B27.

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section B. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does 

not reject a UOCAVA ballot solely because it does not have a postmark—please enter -88 

(negative 88) as the response to question B21. 

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data 

necessary to answer the question—for example if your state rejects UOCAVA ballots 

without a postmark but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 

(negative 99) as the response to the question.

UOCAVA Voters Registered and Eligible: Question B1 

This question asks about the number of registered voters covered under UOCAVA for the 2020 

general election.

States may differ in how they grant UOCAVA status to voters, so please apply the guidelines your 

state follows. 

• For some states, this may be the total number of voters that registered and requested a 

ballot using an FPCA for the November 2020 general election. 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 13

• For other states, this number might also include voters that did not register using an FPCA

but identified themselves as a UOCAVA voter at some point during the voting process, such

as on a state voter registration form.

In states where a person’s FPCA remains valid across elections without requiring a new FPCA or 

other notification to be provided, include all UOCAVA voters who returned an FPCA this year or who 

continued to have UOCAVA status from a previous request.

B1. Total Registered and Eligible UOCAVA Voters 

For question B1a, report the total number of registered and eligible voters in your jurisdiction who 

were covered by UOCAVA in the November 2020 general election. 

For questions B1b and B1c, separate the number of registered and eligible voters that were reported 

in B1a into the categories Uniformed Services voters or non-military/civilian overseas voters. The 

amounts should sum to the total provided in B1a. If you are unable to distinguish between different 

UOCAVA voter types, complete B1a and enter -99 (negative 99) for B1b–B1c. 

Provide any comments about the nuances of how your jurisdiction categorizes registered UOCAVA 

voters in the B1 Comments box. 

Category of UOCAVA Voters Total 

B1a. TOTAL registered and eligible:

Report the total number of registered and eligible voters covered under 

UOCAVA for the November 2020 general election. Include active and 

inactive voters and any persons who might have registered as UOCAVA 

prior to or on Election Day.

If the total number of registered and eligible voters who were covered by 

UOCAVA in the November 2020 general election in your jurisdiction is 

zero, report “0” for B1a.

B1b. Uniformed Services voters (members of the Uniformed Services and 

their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign

B1c. Non-military/civilian overseas voters

B1 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 14

FPCAs Received, Accepted, and Rejected: Questions B2–B4 

These questions ask about Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA), which are federal forms that 

states are required to process from voters covered by UOCAVA. For this question, focus on the total 

number of UOCAVA-registered voters provided in B1a and identify how many used an FPCA to 

register and request an absentee ballot.

B2. Federal Post Card Applications Received

For B2a, report the total number of FPCAs received from UOCAVA voters for the November 2020 

general election. 

Next, for questions B2a–B2c, separate the total number of FPCAs received from UOCAVA voters into 

the categories Uniformed Services voters or non-military/civilian voters. The amounts should sum to 

the total provided in B2a.

FPCAs Received from UOCAVA Voters Total

B2a. TOTAL Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) from UOCAVA voters:

Include any ballot request for the November 2020 general election that 

originated from an FPCA, regardless of the year of submission. Only 

include FPCA requests; do not include absentee ballot requests that 

originated from a state absentee voter registration form or other source. 

B2b. Uniformed Services voters (members of the Uniformed Services 

and their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign

B2c. Non-military/civilian overseas voters

B2 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 15

B3. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected

For question B3a, report the total number of FPCAs rejected from UOCAVA voters. Rejected FPCAs 

should include any forms that did not meet full eligibility requirements for triggering the transmission 

of a blank ballot. Reasons might include missing information, lack of a signature, a missed deadline, 

or overall ineligibility. 

For questions B3b–B3d, divide the total number of FPCAs rejected into the categories Uniformed 

Services voters or non-military/civilian voters. The amounts should sum to the total provided in B3a.

Reason for FPCA Rejection Total 

B3a. TOTAL REJECTED Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) from all UOCAVA 

voters: 

Include any ballot request for the November 2020 general election that 

originated from an FPCA that was rejected, regardless of the year of submission. 

Only include FPCA requests; do not include absentee ballot requests that 

originated from a state absentee voter registration form or other source. 

B3b. REJECTED FPCAs received from Uniformed Services voters (members of 

the Uniformed Services and their eligible dependents)—domestic or foreign

B3c. REJECTED FPCAs received from non-military/civilian overseas voters

B3 Comments:

B4. Federal Post Card Applications Rejected Because Late 

For question B4, report how many of the FPCAs rejected for the 2020 general election (as reported 

in B3a) were rejected because they were late. FPCAs might be considered late if they were received 

after the deadline, and the voter is only eligible for a “federal-only” ballot, or failed to meet the 

deadline for receiving any ballot for the 2020 general election. Here, “deadline” refers to the last day 

a UOCAVA voter could request to receive an absentee ballot using an FPCA.

Reason for FPCA Rejection Total 

B4a. TOTAL FPCAs rejected because late:

Of the total number of Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) that were rejected (as 

reported in B3a), how many were rejected because they were received after the 

absentee ballot request deadline?

B4 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 16

UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted: Questions B5–B8 

Transmitted ballots are any ballots that your office sent to UOCAVA voters, including ballots sent to 

voters via postal mail, email, fax, or other modes. Do not include FWABs or other ballots not 

transmitted from the election office to the voter.

B5–B8. UOCAVA Ballots Transmitted to Voters 

For B5a, report the total number of absentee ballots transmitted (sent by your office) to UOCAVA 

voters for the November 2020 general election, and then divide the total number of transmitted 

UOCAVA ballots that were reported in B5a into Uniformed Services (B5b) and non-military/civilian 

overseas voters (B5c). If the total number of UOCAVA ballots transmitted is zero, report “0” for B5a 

and skip to B23.

For questions B6, B7, and B8, report how many UOCAVA absentee ballots your jurisdiction 

transmitted to UOCAVA voters via postal mail (B6), email (B7), and other modes, such as fax or 

online ballot delivery portals (B8). These questions refer to the way ballots were sent to voters, not 

the way ballots were requested or returned. 

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services

voters (members of

the Uniformed

Services and their

eligible dependents)-

domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian

overseas voters

B5. TOTAL absentee ballots 

transmitted to UOCAVA voters

B6. Postal mail: 

Report the total number 

transmitted by postal mail, 

using USPS or any private 

courier shipping services (e.g., 

FedEx, UPS, DHL).

B7. Email: 

Report the total number 

transmitted via email 

attachment from your office to 

voters.

B8. Other mode: 

Report the total number 

transmitted by other methods 

such as fax, online ballot 

delivery portals, etc.

B5-B8 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 17

UOCAVA Ballots Returned: Questions B9–B13 

B9–B12. Transmitted Ballots Returned by Voters: Postal Mail, Email, Other 

For these questions, we are interested in how many UOCAVA absentee ballots were returned for the 

November 2020 general election. For question B9, please report the total number of ballots that were 

returned by voters for the 2020 general election out of all UOCAVA ballots transmitted to voters (as 

reported in B5a). 

Returned ballots include all ballots returned by the voter to the election office, regardless of whether 

or not those ballots are ultimately counted. 

Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) from your totals. You will report data on 

FWABs starting with question B23.

We are interested in knowing how many of the absentee ballots were returned via postal mail (B10), 

email (B11), or another mode (B12). For questions B10–B12, divide the total number of UOCAVA 

absentee ballots received (as reported in B9) into the following categories of types of voters and 

modes of transmission. The amounts should sum to the total provided in B9.

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services

voters (members of

the Uniformed

Services and their

eligible dependents)-

domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian

overseas voters

B9. TOTAL: 

Of all UOCAVA ballots 

transmitted to voters as 

reported in B5a, report the total 

number of ballots that were 

returned by voters to your office 

for the 2020 general election. 

Do not include FWABs in this 

number.

B10. Postal mail: 

Of all UOCAVA ballots received 

(B9a), report the total number 

that were returned by postal 

mail. This includes all ballots 

that your office received via the 

USPS or private courier shipping 

services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL).
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 18

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. Total

b. Uniformed Services

voters (members of

the Uniformed

Services and their

eligible dependents)-

domestic or foreign

c. Non-military/civilian

overseas voters

B11. Email: 

Of all UOCAVA ballots received 

(B9a), report the total number 

that were returned by email. 

This includes all ballots that you 

received via email attachment 

from a voter.

B12. Other mode: 

Of all UOCAVA ballots received 

(B9a), report the total number 

that were returned through 

other methods. This includes 

ballots received through all 

other modes, such as, fax, 

online systems, etc.

B9–B12 Comments: 

B13: Ballots Returned Undeliverable 

For question B13, please report the total number of ballots that were returned as undeliverable by 

mode of transmission. This would include ballots returned by mail as undeliverable (B13b), ballots 

where the email to the voter bounced back and could not be used (B13c), and ballots undeliverable 

by other mode, such as a bad fax number (B13d).

Mode of Transmission

a. Total b. Postal mail

undeliverable

c. Email

undeliverable

d. Other mode

undeliverable

B13. TOTAL ballots returned 

undeliverable: 

Ballots that were returned, 

regardless of the mode by which 

they were transmitted, and could 

not be delivered to the voter.

B13 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 19

UOCAVA Ballots Counted: Questions B14–B17 

B14–B17. Transmitted Ballots Counted: Postal Mail, Email, Other 

For these questions, we are interested in how many UOCAVA absentee ballots were counted for the 

November 2020 general election. For question B14, please report, out of all UOCAVA ballots returned 

by voters (as reported in B9a), the total number of ballots that were counted by your office for the 

2020 general election. Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB) from your totals. 

You will report data on FWABs starting with question B23.

We are interested in knowing how many of the absentee ballots were returned and counted by postal 

mail (B15), email (B16), or other (B17). For questions B15–B17, divide the total number of UOCAVA 

absentee ballots counted (as reported in B14a) into the following categories of types of voters and 

modes of transmission. 

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. Total

b. Uniformed

Services voters

(members of 

the Uniformed 

Services and 

their eligible 

dependents)-

domestic or 

foreign 

B14. TOTAL: 

c. Nonmilitary/civilian 

overseas voters

Of all UOCAVA ballots returned by voters as reported 

in B9a, report the total number of ballots that were 

counted by your office for the 2020 general 

election. Do not include FWABs in this number.

B15. Postal mail: 

Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned 

by postal mail that were counted by your office for 

the 2020 general election. This includes all ballots 

that your office received via the USPS or private 

courier shipping services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, BHL).

B16. Email: 

Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned 

by email that were counted by your office for the 

2020 general election. This includes all ballots that 

you received via email attachment from a voter.

B17. Other mode: 

Report the total number of UOCAVA ballots returned 

through other methods that were counted by your 

office for the 2020 general election. This includes 

ballots received through all other modes, such as, 

fax, online systems, etc.

B14–B17 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 20

UOCAVA Ballots Rejected: Questions B18–B22 

B18–22. Total Number of UOCAVA Ballots Rejected and Reasons for Rejection 

For questions B18a–B18c, report the total number of transmitted UOCAVA ballots that were returned 

by voters and were rejected. Please EXCLUDE Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) from your 

totals. You will report data on FWABs starting with question B23.

For questions B19–B22, divide the total number of rejections by type of voter. For example, for 

question B20, report the total number of ballots that were rejected because of a signature problem 

(B20a) and then divide this total by ballots returned by uniformed services and by overseas citizens.

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. Total

b. Uniformed

Services voters

(members of 

the Uniformed 

Services and 

their eligible 

dependents)-

domestic or 

foreign 

c. Nonmilitary/civilian 

overseas voters

B18. TOTAL ballots rejected:

Rejected ballots include any ballots that were not 

counted. This might include ballots rejected 

because they were not completed properly, ballots 

received after the deadline for counting, ballots that 

lacked a postmark, or ballots submitted by 

individuals who were not eligible to vote in your 

jurisdiction.

B19. Ballot not received on time/missed deadline: 

Ballots that were not counted because they were 

received after the deadline for a ballot to be 

received for counting.

B20. Problem with voter signature: 

Ballots that were not counted because of an issue 

relating to the voter signature, including but not 

limited to a missing signature or a returned ballot 

signature not matching the signature on file.

B21. Ballot lacked a postmark: 

Ballots that were not counted because the ballot 

lacked the postmark required by your state or 

jurisdiction, despite being received before the 

deadline for being included for counting. 

B22. Other: 

B18–B22 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 21

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots: Questions B23–B27 

B23–B27. Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots Received, Counted, and Rejected 

For questions B23–B27, report the total number of Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) 

received, counted, and rejected from UOCAVA voters for the following groups. 

Type of UOCAVA Voter 

a. TOTAL

number of

FWABs 

b. Uniformed

Services

voters 

(members of 

the Uniformed 

Services and 

their eligible 

dependents)—

domestic or 

foreign 

c. Nonmilitary/civilian 

overseas 

voters

B23. TOTAL number of FWABs returned by 

UOCAVA voters

B24. TOTAL number of FWABs counted

B25. Total number of FWABs rejected because 

it was received after the ballot receipt 

deadline: 

Of the total number of FWABs received and 

rejected, report the number of FWABs that 

were rejected or not counted because they 

were received after the state’s deadline for 

receiving and accepting FWABs.

B26. Total number of FWABs rejected because 

the voter’s regular absentee ballot was 

received and counted: 

Of the total number of FWABs received and 

rejected, report the number of FWABs that 

were rejected or not counted because the 

voter also returned an absentee ballot that you 

had transmitted to the voter.

B27. Total number of FWABs rejected for other 

reasons (please describe): 

B23–B27 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 22

Section C: Domestic Civilian By-Mail Voting 

Section C asks about by-mail voting, which includes all individuals who received a ballot from your 

office prior to Election Day by mail (or via download from a web portal or by fax). It does not matter 

how the by-mail ballot was returned (via mail, dropped off at a polling place, or other designated 

method). 

The goal of Section C is to understand by-mail voting, which some jurisdictions may refer to as 

absentee voting. Remember that Section C is about domestic by-mail voting, not UOCAVA voting.

This section of the EAVS used to be called “Domestic Civilian Absentee Ballots.” The EAVS now 

uses the term “by mail” to reflect that a majority of states no longer require a voter to be absent 

from his or her voting location in order to cast a ballot by mail.

This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:

1. How many by-mail ballots were transmitted to voters in the 2020 general election?

2. How many by-mail ballots were transmitted to permanent by-mail voters in the 2020 general 

election? 

3. How many by-mail ballots were accepted and how many by-mail ballots were rejected in the 

2020 general election?

4. For what reasons were by-mail ballots rejected in the 2020 general election? 

When responding to questions in Section C, do not include any individuals who voted using any 

form of in-person voting, including in-person absentee voting. For the purpose of the EAVS, inperson absentee voters are considered early voters and are reported in Section D. 

Transmitted Civilian By-Mail Ballots: Questions C1–C2 

Transmitted civilian by-mail ballots are by-mail ballots that your office sent to voters, including ballots 

sent to voters via postal mail, email, fax, or other modes. Do not include ballots mailed to UOCAVA 

voters. 

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section C. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does 

not have permanent by-mail voters—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to 

question C2a. 

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data 

necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have permanent bymail voting but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) 

as the response to the question.
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 23

C1. Total By-Mail Ballots Transmitted 

For question C1, report the total number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots transmitted to voters for 

the November 2020 general election. Include all by-mail ballots transmitted for this election. Next, 

divide the total number of by-mail ballots transmitted to voters (as reported in C1a) into the 

categories listed in C1b through C1f. Use C1g for any by-mail ballots that do not fit into the 

categories listed. The numbers entered in C1b through C1f should sum to the total provided in C1a.

Category of By-Mail Ballots Total 

C1a. TOTAL domestic by-mail ballots transmitted:

This number should include all by-mail ballots transmitted to non-UOCAVA 

voters before Election Day, including spoiled or replaced ballots. 

C1b. Returned by voters (including ballots both counted and rejected): 

C1c. Returned as undeliverable:

Report the total number of transmitted ballots returned to your office as 

undeliverable. Here, undeliverable ballots would be ballots returned by the 

U.S. Postal Service.

C1d. Surrendered, spoiled or replaced ballots (also referred to as “voided” 

ballots): 

This category includes a by-mail voter who surrenders his or her by-mail 

ballot at a polling place in order to vote in person. It also includes ballots 

that were incorrectly marked or impaired in some way; a replacement 

ballot may be issued so that the voter can correctly mark the ballot.

C1e. By-mail voters who voted in person with a provisional ballot:

In states with by-mail voting, some by-mail voters decide to vote in person 

on Election Day. If the by-mail voter surrenders his or her by-mail ballot at 

the polls to vote in person using the regular voting process, the by-mail 

ballot is considered spoiled and should be included in C1d. However, 

some by-mail voters do not bring their ballot to the polls on Election Day 

and must vote with a provisional ballot. Please record these voters in C1e. 

If your state categorizes these voters as having spoiled their by-mail 

ballots, please note this in the C1 Comments box.

C1f. Status unknown (neither returned undeliverable nor returned from 

voter):

This category would include all transmitted by-mail ballots that were not 

returned by voter, spoiled, returned as undeliverable, or otherwise unable 

to be tracked by your office.

C1g. Other: 

C1h. Other: 

C1i. Other: 

C1 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 24

C2. Ballots Sent to Permanent By-Mail Voters

For question C2a, report the total number of ballots that were transmitted to permanent by-mail 

voters in your jurisdiction. This includes all ballots that were sent to voters in your jurisdiction who 

appear on a permanent by-mail ballot list. This should not include ballots transmitted by jurisdictions 

that conduct elections entirely by mail.

This question applies if ANY voters in your state can request to be a permanent or by-mail voter. 

For example, in some states, if a voter is permanently ill or disabled, he or she can file an 

application indicating permanent illness or physical disability and receive by-mail (absentee)

ballots for all subsequent elections without filing any additional by-mail (absentee) ballot 

applications. In other states, any voter can apply for permanent by-mail voter status. 

If your state does not allow any voters to have permanent by-mail voting status, answer -88 to 

question C2a and move to question C3.

Total 

C2a.TOTAL number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots transmitted to 

voters on a permanent by-mail ballot voter registration list

C2 Comments: 

Returned and Rejected Ballots: Questions C3–C4 

C3. Total Number of By-Mail Ballots Returned and Counted 

For question C3, report the total number of by-mail ballots returned and counted.

Total 

C3a. TOTAL returned and counted: 

Ballots that were processed, counted, and included in the canvas of 

election results.

C3 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 25

C4. Number of By-Mail Ballots Rejected, by Reason Rejected 

For question C4, provide the total number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots rejected, and then 

divide these into the following categories indicating the reason why the by-mail ballots were rejected. 

Use options C4p-C4r for any ballots that cannot be placed in the categories given in C4b through 

C4o. The numbers reported in C4b through C4r should sum to the total number of ballots rejected 

reported in C4a. 

Category of By-Mail Ballots Total 

C4a. TOTAL number of domestic civilian by-mail ballots rejected

C4b. Ballot not received on time/missed deadline

C4c. No voter signature

C4d. No witness signature

C4e. Non-matching signature

C4f. No election official’s signature on ballot

C4g. Ballot returned in an unofficial envelope

C4h. Ballot missing from envelope

C4i. Envelope not sealed

C4j. No resident address on envelope

C4k. Multiple ballots returned in one envelope

C4l. Voter deceased

C4m. Voter already voted in person

C4n. First-time voter without proper identification

C4o. No ballot application on record

C4p. Other: 

C4q. Other: 

C4r. Other: 

C4 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 26

Section D: In-Person Voting and Polling Operations 

The goal of Section D is to understand in-person voting and polling operations in your jurisdiction.

This section of the EAVS asks for four types of data:

1. How many people voted in person—either on Election Day or during in-person early voting

(including in-person absentee voting)—in 2020?

2. How many precincts did you have in your jurisdiction for the 2020 general election?

3. How many polling places—for Election Day voting and in-person early voting—did your

jurisdiction have for the 2020 general election?

4. How many poll workers—for Election Day voting and in-person early voting—did your

jurisdiction have for the 2020 general election, and other data related to poll workers?

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section D. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does

not have any form of in-person early voting—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the

response to question D1b.

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data

necessary to answer the question—for example, if your state does have in-person early

voting but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as

the response to the question.

Total In-Person Voting: Question D1 

D1. Total In-Person Voting 

For question D1, report the total number of people in your jurisdiction who voted either at a physical 

polling location on Election Day or voted at a physical polling location prior to the November 2020 

general election. 

Category of Ballots Total 

D1a. Voted at a physical polling place on Election Day:

This category includes all individuals who cast a ballot at a physical 

location on Election Day, regardless of whether their ballots were 

ultimately counted or rejected (not including provisional ballots or 

absentee ballots dropped off at the polls).

D1b. Voted at an early vote location: 

This category includes all individuals who cast a ballot at a physical 

location before Election Day, regardless of whether their ballots were 

ultimately counted or rejected.

D1 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 27

Precincts and Polling Places: Questions D2–D4 

This section asks about polling places and precincts. First, you will report the number of precincts 

and second, the number of physical polling places.

D2. Total Number of Precincts 

For question D2a, report the total number of precincts in your jurisdiction for the November 2020 

general election. For this question, a precinct is defined as the geographic area to which voters are 

assigned. It is an administrative division of a county or municipality to which voters have been 

assigned according to their residence address for voting in an election. Your jurisdiction may use the 

terms “ward” or “voting district” to describe voting precincts.

Type of Registration Total 

D2a. TOTAL number of precincts in your jurisdiction for the November 

2020 general election

D2 Comments:

D3–D4. Total Number of Physical Polling Places (Election Day and Early Voting) 

For questions D3a and D4a, report the total number of physical polling places in your jurisdiction for 

Election Day voting (D3) and for early voting (D4) for the November 2020 general election. If a single 

location was used for both early voting and Election Day voting, please include it in both counts. 

Remember that in-person absentee voting is considered early voting for the purposes of the 

EAVS.

For questions D3b and D3c and D4b through D4c, separate Election Day polling locations into two 

categories: 

• Physical polling places that are not a part of the election office (D3b and D4b), and

• Polling places that are a part of the election office (D3c and D4c).

If your jurisdiction has two precincts in one location, such as a school gym, this is only one polling 

place (even if they are far apart in the gym). However, if your jurisdiction has a polling place at a 

school in the library and then has another polling place at the same school but it is in the gym, that 

would constitute two polling places. If your jurisdiction allows any individuals to cast a ballot in 

person at the local election office, please note these jurisdictions in D3c and D4c.

Category of Polling Place 

a. TOTAL

c. Election offices

D3. Election Day 

voting

D4. Early voting

b. Physical polling places other than election offices

(e.g., libraries, schools, mobile voting location)

D3–D4 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 28

Poll Workers: Questions D5–D7 

The EAVS asks about the number of poll workers who served in the 2020 general election. Your 

jurisdiction may use a different term for poll workers, including election judges, booth workers, 

wardens, commissioners, or other similar terms.

Here, “poll worker” refers to a person who verifies the identity of a voter; assists the voter with 

signing the register, affidavits, or other documents required to cast a ballot; assists the voter by 

providing the voter with a ballot or setting up the voting machine for the voter; and serves other 

functions as dictated by state law.

Your count of poll workers should not include observers stationed at the polling places, regular 

office staff who did not serve poll worker functions during the election, or temporary election staff 

not hired specifically to serve voters in either early or Election Day voting.

D5–D6. Total Number of Poll Workers 

For questions D5 and D6, report the total number of poll workers used in your jurisdiction for the 

November 2020 general election. For question D5, report the total number of poll workers who 

worked Election Day voting. For question D6, report the total number of poll workers who worked inperson early voting (counting each poll worker only once, regardless of the number of shifts they 

worked). If a poll worker worked as a poll worker for Election Day voting and as a poll worker during 

early voting, the poll worker would be counted both under the category of Election Day poll worker 

and the category of early voting poll worker.

D5. Election Day 

voting

D6. Early voting

a. TOTAL number of poll workers

D5–D6 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 29

D7. Age of Poll Workers 

If your jurisdiction has data on the ages of its poll workers (for example, from voter registration 

records, payroll records, or poll worker applications), report the total number of poll workers in each 

age category. In this question, each poll worker should only be counted once, regardless of the 

number of shifts they worked.

Age of Poll Workers Total 

D7a. TOTAL number of poll workers

D7b. Under 18 years old

D7c. 18 to 25

D7d. 26 to 40

D7e. 41 to 60

D7f. 61 to 70

D7g. 71 years old and over

D7 Comments:

D8. Ease of Recruiting Poll Workers 

How difficult or easy was it for your jurisdiction to obtain a sufficient number of poll workers for the 

November 2020 general election? Please select one option.

o Very difficult

o Somewhat difficult

o Neither difficult nor easy

o Somewhat easy

o Very easy

o Not enough information to answer

D8 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 30

Section E: Provisional Ballots 

The goal of Section E is to understand provisional voting in your jurisdiction. This section of the EAVS 

asks for three types of data:

1. How many individuals cast a provisional ballot in the 2020 general election?

2. Of the provisional ballots cast, how many were counted and how many were rejected?

3. What were the reasons provisional ballots were rejected?

Two definitions will be helpful as you answer the questions in Section E:

Provisional voter: An individual who declares that he or she is a registered voter in the jurisdiction 

where he or she desires to vote and is eligible to vote in an election for federal office, but (1) his or 

her name does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the polling place, or (2) an election 

official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote.

Provisional ballot: A ballot used to record a vote when there is some question regarding the eligibility 

of the voter. Once voted, provisional ballots are kept separate from other ballots and are not 

tabulated until the eligibility of the voter is confirmed.

 

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section E. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your state does 

not have provisional ballots—please enter -88 (negative 88) as the response to question 

E1a. 

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data 

necessary to answer the question—for example, your state does have provisional ballots 

but your jurisdiction does not track those data—please enter -99 (negative 99) as the 

response to the question.
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 31

Provisional Ballots Submitted and Rejected: Questions E1 and E2 

E1. Total Provisional Ballots Submitted and Adjudication 

For question E1a, report the total number of voters who submitted provisional ballots in the 

November 2020 general election. Next, for questions E1b-E1e, divide the total number of voters who 

submitted provisional ballots (as reported in E1a) into the categories listed below. 

Provisional Ballot Outcomes Total 

E1a. TOTAL number of voters who submitted provisional ballots: 

The number of voters who submitted provisional ballots, regardless of 

whether or not the provisional ballot was ultimately counted in part or full. 

States that are exempt from the provisional ballot requirements of HAVA 

and do not offer provisional ballots should report -88.

E1b. Provisional ballots counted in full

E1c. Provisional ballots counted in part (e.g. only the items on the ballot 

for which the voter would have been eligible had he or she voted in the 

correct precinct)

E1d. Provisional ballots rejected

E1e. Other: 

E1 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 32

E2. Reasons Provisional Ballots Rejected

For question E2a, please report the total number of provisional ballots rejected (as reported in E1d). 

For questions E2b–E2m, please divide the total number of provisional ballots rejected into the 

following categories according to the reason the provisional ballots were rejected. The amounts 

should sum to the total provided in E2a.

If a provisional ballot was rejected for multiple reasons, please use the primary reason why the 

provisional ballot was rejected, if possible, so that reasons for rejection (E2b through E2m) equal 

E2a. If provisional ballots were classified into more than one reason for rejection, please indicate the 

number of ballots that were classified into multiple categories in E2 Comments. Use items E2k 

through E2m for rejected provisional ballots that cannot be placed in any of the categories given in 

E2b through E2j. 

Reason for Provisional Ballot Rejection Total 

E2a. TOTAL number of provisional ballots rejected

E2b. Voter not registered in the state

E2c. Voter registered in state but attempted to vote in the wrong jurisdiction

E2d. Voter registered in state but attempted to vote in the wrong precinct

E2e. Failure to provide sufficient identification

E2f. Envelope and/or ballot was incomplete and/or illegible

E2g. Ballot missing from envelope

E2h. No signature

E2i. Non-matching signature

E2j. Voter already voted

E2k. Other:

E2l. Other: 

E2m. Other:

E2 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 33

Section F: Voter Participation and Election Technologies 

The goal of Section F is to calculate the number of individuals who participated in the 2020 general 

election and identify the type of voting technologies that were used in your jurisdiction. 

Questions F1 and F2 

The purposes of the following two questions are (1) to determine the total number of voters who cast 

a ballot that was counted in the 2020 general election, and (2) to determine the source of the data 

reported. This includes all voters whose ballots were counted, regardless of vote mode, in the 

election. Include all voters (e.g., both civilian and military by-mail voters) and all types of ballots (in 

person, by mail, provisional).

 

Answering All Questions 

Please provide an answer to all of the items in Section F. 

• If the question is not applicable to your state/jurisdiction—for example, if your jurisdiction 

uses only one model of DRE w/o VVPAT voting equipment—please enter -88 (negative 88) 

as the response to the second and third lines of question F5b. 

• If the question is applicable to your state but your jurisdiction does not have the data 

necessary to answer the question—for example, if your jurisdiction uses DREs w/o VVPATs 

but does not track the number of machines deployed—enter -99 (negative 99) as the 

response to question F5c.
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 34

F1. Total Participation in the 2020 Election 

For question F1, please provide the total number of voters who cast a ballot that was counted in the 

2020 election, by mode of voting.

While other items in the survey have reported some of this data, only voters whose ballots were 

counted should be reported in this set of questions. 

Type of Participants Total 

F1a. TOTAL number of voters who cast a ballot that was counted: 

All voters who voted in the election, including all categories of voters listed 

below. 

F1b. Voters who cast a ballot at a physical polling place on Election Day, and 

whose ballots were counted: 

All voters who cast ballots in person on Election Day, not including provisional 

ballots or mail ballots dropped off at the polls. 

F1c. UOCAVA voters who cast a ballot via absentee or FWAB, and whose ballots 

were counted: 

All voters who are covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 

Voting Act (UOCAVA) and who used either a transmitted absentee ballot or a 

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

F1d. Voters who cast a domestic civilian by-mail ballot, and whose ballots were 

counted: 

All voters who voted using a by-mail absentee ballot. This should not include 

voters whose jurisdictions conduct elections entirely by mail; those voters are 

reported in F1g.

F1e. Voters who cast a provisional ballot, and whose ballots were counted:

All voters who cast a provisional ballot that was counted, either partially or in 

full. 

F1f. Voters who cast a ballot at an in-person early voting location, and whose 

ballots were counted: 

All voters who participated in the election in person prior to Election Day. This 

includes in-person early voting or in-person absentee voting.

F1g. Voters who cast a by-mail ballot in a jurisdiction that conducts elections 

entirely by mail, and whose ballots were counted: 

All voters who cast ballots in a jurisdiction that uses an all-vote-by-mail system 

(i.e. sends a mail ballot to every registered voter). This should not include 

voters who used a domestic civilian by-mail ballot; those voters are reported in 

F1d. 

F1h. Other: 

F1 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 35

F2. Source of Data on Total Participation in the 2020 Election 

For question F2, indicate the source that was used for the total number of participants entered in 

question F1. (Select only one source.)

o Poll books and number of by-mail/provisional participants: Number of voters checked off by 

poll workers or who signed poll books at physical polling places plus the number of UOCAVA 

and other by-mail or early voters.

o Number of ballots counted: Participation is based on the number of ballots counted at 

precincts and/or at a central location (including UOCAVA and other by-mail or early vote 

ballots). 

o Vote history: Participation is based on the number of voters generated after “vote history” 

has been added.

o Votes cast: Participation is based on the number of votes cast for the highest office on the 

ballot. 

o Other (please specify): ___________________________________________________________

F2 Comments: 

 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 36

Poll Books: Questions F3–F4 

There are two key election technologies that are asked about in the EAVS: the type of poll books 

used in your jurisdiction’s polling places and the type of voting technology used to tabulate votes.

F3–F4. Use of Electronic and Paper Poll Books 

For questions F3 and F4, indicate whether your jurisdiction used electronic poll books or printed, 

paper poll books in polling places in the November 2020 general election for the listed activities. 

Completely vote-by-mail jurisdictions should answer “No” to all items.

Electronic poll book (e-poll book): A type of hardware, software, or a combination of both, that is used 

in the place of a traditional paper poll book that lists all registered voters. These are not voting 

machines and are not used in the process of voting. 

For each item below (a, b, c, and d), did your jurisdiction use electronic poll books/electronic lists of 

voters or traditional paper poll books at polling places for the following functions in the November 

2020 general election?

Use of Poll Books F3. Electronic Poll Book F4. Paper Poll Book

a. Sign voters in o Yes

o No

o Yes

o No

b. Update voter history o Yes

o No

o Yes

o No

c. Look up polling places o Yes

o No

o Yes

o No

d. Other o Yes

o No

o Yes

o No

F3–F4 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 37

Voting Technologies: Questions F5–F11 

This question has been simplified over how it was asked in past years. Providing the best data will 

give the EAC the most complete picture possible of the voting technology your voters used to cast 

their ballots.

F5–F11. Voting Equipment Used 

For questions F5–F11, report the number and type of voting equipment used for each aspect of the 

election process in the November 2020 general election. Report the following information:

• Equipment type—please note whether your jurisdiction uses:

o Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE), not equipped with a voter-verified paper audit trail 

(VVPAT)

o Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE), equipped with a voter-verified paper audit trail 

(VVPAT)

o Electronic system that produces a paper record but does not tabulate votes (often 

referred to as a “ballot marking device”)

o Scanner (optical/digital) that tabulates paper records that voters mark by hand or via 

a ballot marking device

o Punch card

o Lever

o Hand-counted paper ballots (not optical/digital scan system)

• Make and model of the voting equipment used (e.g., the ES&S ExpressVote® or the 

Dominion ImageCast®Evolution/ICE). There is space provided to list up to three makes and 

models for each equipment type.

• The number of machines deployed

• Equipment uses—indicate whether each type of equipment was used for:

o In-precinct Election Day regular balloting

o Special device accessible to voters with a disability

o Provisional ballot voting

o In-person early voting

o By-mail ballot counting

Provide any comments about the nuances of your jurisdiction’s use of voting equipment, or record 

information about additional voting equipment in use, in the F5-F11 Comments box.

[See next page]
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 38

a. In Use in Your

Jurisdiction b. Make/Model

c. Number

Deployed d. Equipment Use

(Select All that Apply) 

F5. DRE 

machines w/o 

VVPAT

o Yes

o No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular

balloting

□ Special device accessible to

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting

□ In-person early voting

F6. DRE 

machines w/ 

VVPAT

o Yes

o No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular

balloting

□ Special device accessible to

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting

□ In-person early voting

F7. Ballot 

marking device

o Yes

o No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular

balloting

□ Special device accessible to

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting

□ In-person early voting

□ By-mail ballot counting

F8. Scanner o Yes

o No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular

balloting

□ Special device accessible to

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting

□ In-person early voting

□ By-mail ballot counting
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 39

 

a. In Use in Your 

Jurisdiction b. Make/Model 

c. Number 

Deployed d. Equipment Use 

(Select All that Apply) 

F9. Punch card o Yes

o No 

□ In-precinct Election Day regular 

balloting 

□ Special device accessible to 

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting

□ In-person early voting

□ By-mail ballot counting 

F10. Lever o Yes

o No 

□ In-precinct Election Day regular 

balloting 

□ Special device accessible to 

voters with a disability

□ In-person early voting 

F11. No 

equipment 

(hand count)

o Yes

o No

□ In-precinct Election Day regular 

balloting 

□ Special device accessible to 

voters with a disability

□ Provisional ballot voting 

□ In-person early voting

□ By-mail ballot counting

F5-F11 Comments:
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 40

Location of Vote Tally: Question F12 

F12. Location for Where Votes are Tallied 

For each of the following uses of your jurisdiction’s voting equipment, report where the votes are 

tallied. 

Location of Vote Tally for: Please Select One 

F12a. In-precinct Election Day regular ballot voting: □ Central location

□ Precinct or polling location

□ Both central and precinct location

□ Does not apply

□ Data not available

F12b. Special devices accessible to disabled voters: □ Central location

□ Precinct or polling location

□ Both central and precinct location

□ Does not apply

□ Data not available

F12c. Provisional ballot voting: □ Central location

□ Precinct or polling location

□ Both central and precinct location

□ Does not apply

□ Data not available

F12d. In-person early voting: □ Central location

□ Precinct or polling location

□ Both central and precinct location

□ Does not apply

□ Data not available

F12e. By-mail balloting: □ Central location

□ Precinct or polling location

□ Both central and precinct location

□ Does not apply

□ Data not available

F12 Comments: 
OMB Control No. 3265-0006 Expiration Date 3/31/2023 41

F13. General Comments 

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) welcomes any general comments the jurisdiction 

may wish to share regarding its Election Day experiences (e.g., problems with voting system 

anomalies*, recounts, staffing, challenges to eligibility, long lines), or noteworthy successes or 

challenges overcome in administering the November 2020 general election. Use as much space as 

you need. Please feel free to attach additional pages as necessary.

*An anomaly is defined as an irregular or inconsistent action or response from the voting system or

system component resulting in some disruption to the election process. Incidents resulting from

administrator error or procedural deficiencies are not considered anomalies for purposes of this

survey question (EAC Voting Systems Testing and Certification Program Manual).

F13 Comments:

END OF SURVEY

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THIS SURVEY 

This information collection is required for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to meet its 

statutory requirements under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901), the 

National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (52 U.S.C. 20502 et seq.), and the Uniformed and Overseas 

Citizens Absentee Voters Act (UOCAVA) (52 U.S.C. 20302). Respondent’s obligation to reply to this 

information collection is mandatory as required under NVRA (52 U.S.C. 20502 et seq.) and UOCAVA 

(52 U.S.C. 20302); respondents include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. 

Territories. This information will be made publicly available on the EAC website 

(https://www.eac.gov). According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1994, an agency may not 

conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 

displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control 

number for this information collection is OMB Control No. 3265-0006 (expires 3/31/2023). The 

annualized time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 101 hours 

per state response. This estimate includes the time for reviewing the instructions, gathering 

information, and completing the form. Comments regarding this burden estimate should be sent to 

the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, ATTN: 2020 Election Administration and Voting Survey, 

633 3rd St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20001.