U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

FISCAL YEAR 2019

 CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

February 12, 2018
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Vision and Mission .................................................................................................................................5

FY 2019 Agency Priority Goals..............................................................................................................5

Appropriations Language......................................................................................................................5

FY 2017 Accomplishment Highlights...................................................................................................6

Agency Background............................................................................................................................8

Goals and Structure................................................................................................................................9

Organization Chart..................................................................................................................................9

Operating Plan Summary....................................................................................................................10

FY 2019 Budget Request Highlights....................................................................................................10

Budgetary Changes..............................................................................................................................12

Budget Requests and Performance Measures by Goal...................................................................13

Information Technology ......................................................................................................................20

Status of Management Challenges....................................................................................................21

Improper Payments .............................................................................................................................21

Mandated Reports to Congress..........................................................................................................21

Attachment A – OIG Budget Request in Detail.................................................................................23
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VISION AND MISSION

Vision

A trusted, proactive, and responsive federal agency that helps election officials administer and voters 

participate in elections.

Mission 

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) helps election officials improve the administration of 

elections and helps Americans participate in the voting process.

 

 

FY 2019 Agency Priority Goals

1. Contribute to the cyber-resilience of the American election administration system.

2. Assist voters with disabilities as they participate in the 2018 midterms.

3. Adopt a new version of the EAC’s Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and educate EAC 

stakeholders on the implementation of the new version.

4. Actively engage with stakeholders and the stakeholder groups that represent them.

Appropriations Language

For necessary expenses to carry out the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-252), 

[$9,600,000] $9,200,000, of which [ $1,400,000] $1,500,000 shall be transferred to the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology for election reform administration activities authorized under the 

Help America Vote Act of 2002. (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017)

Salaries and Expenses Resources Available for Obligation

FY 2017

Enacted

FY 2017

Annualized Continuing 

Resolution Amount

FY 2019

President’s Budget

FTE Dollars FTE Dollars FTE Dollars

26 $9,600,000 30 $9,534,806 31 $9,200,000
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Accomplishment Highlights

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is a trusted, proactive, and responsive bipartisan federal 

commission that helps election officials administer and voters participate in elections. Established by 

the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), EAC serves as the nation’s clearinghouse for information on 

election administration, conducts the Election Administration and Voting survey, develops and 

manages the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting 

systems, administers and audits HAVA funds, and administers the national mail voter registration form 

in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. From coast to coast, EAC is providing 

services for state and local election officials and the voters they serve. Among EAC’s most notable 

accomplishments during Fiscal Year 2017 are the following:

Election Security

During FY 2017, EAC took lessons gleaned from the 2016 Federal Election and turned its attention to 

strengthening resources and best practices in key areas such as cybersecurity, accessibility, and 

election administration efficiency. We spoke to groups of election officials throughout the nation, 

provided training seminars, launched new resources, and advised Congress and other lawmakers. We 

also worked to connect election administrators with assistance from sources such as private industry 

experts and academics.

In addition, EAC played a leading role in discussing election administration with the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS) and coordinating DHS interactions with stakeholders impacted by DHS’s 

January 2017 decision to designate election systems as part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. 

Research

In June, EAC released the 2016 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), the most 

comprehensive nationwide survey about election administration in the United States. EAVS is a “deep 

dive” into a wealth of election and voting data and includes findings such as:

 an increase in registered voters since 2012, 

 a growing number of Americans voting early, before Election Day, and 

 a larger number of jurisdictions using technologies such as e-poll books. 

The 2016 EAVS included responses from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, 

Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Data is collected at the state and local level from each county or 

county equivalent. 

Throughout the remainder of the year, we focused on making the data more useful and accessible to 

election officials through a series of new resources, including “Data Deep Dive” white papers that 

explored specific data sets and provided more contexts for the survey’s findings. EAC plans to continue 

using EAVS data to drive new resources, such as state-by-state fact sheets, its data interactive tool that 

permits election officials to compare their jurisdictions with locations of like size and resources across 

the country.
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Election Technology

Throughout FY 2017, EAC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) worked with 

EAC’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) to develop and finalize the next generation 

of voting system testing guidelines and standards, best known as the Voluntary Voting System 

Guidelines (VVSG). TGDC is a HAVA-mandated committee charged with assisting EAC’s VVSG 

development efforts and is composed of 14 other members appointed jointly by EAC and the Director 

of NIST, who is the chairperson of TGDC. 

In September, the TGDC adopted the VVSG 2.0. The structure of the new VVSG reflects modifications 

proposed by the election community, EAC, NIST and the TGDC, which is comprised of election officials, 

voting system manufacturers, disability experts, cybersecurity experts, technology experts, and other 

key election stakeholders. 

The new guidelines are a nimble, high-level set of principles 

that will be supplemented by accompanying documents that 

detail specific requirements for how systems can meet the new 

guidelines and obtain certification.

Supplemental documents will also detail assertions for how the accredited test laboratories will test

voting systems for compliance with the guidelines. The next step is to share the guidelines with 

members of EAC’s Board of Advisors and Standards Board, who will review and provide comments on 

the approved guidelines. Following the board reviews, there will be a 90-day period for public 

comment on the guidelines. Then the commission will vote on whether or not to adopt the new 

guidelines.

Election Accessibility

Language Accessibility

EAC convened its second Language Access for Voters Summit on June 6, 2017. The summit was cosponsored by Democracy Fund Voice, a nonpartisan not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping 

America build a stronger, healthier democracy. Citizens for whom English is a second language may 

need language assistance when voting, such as having ballots and voting materials translated into their 

native languages. Federal law requires over 250 jurisdictions nationwide, to provide language 

assistance based on Census results. The EAC held this summit to convene experts from the field and 

share best practices for election officials who must navigate this crucial responsibility.

Physical Accessibility

EAC also continued its work of assisting voters with disabilities. To coincide with the anniversary of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we hosted a roundtable discussion entitled, “Election 

Innovations: Helping Veterans with Disabilities in the Voting Process,” on July 18, 2017. The livestream 

discussion examined initiatives that improve voting accessibility for veterans with disabilities. That 

same month, we focused much our public outreach on serving voters with disabilities and issued a 

series of guest blogs from election leaders who have found innovative ways to ensure all Americans 

have the ability to vote privately and independently pursuant to HAVA. 
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Election Efficiency

Beyond the topics mentioned above, the core duties of election administrators also include activities

such as:

 maintaining accurate voter registration lists,

 recruiting and training poll workers, 

 procuring new election equipment, 

 providing Americans with access to voter registration, and

 contingency planning. 

Throughout FY 2017, EAC launched a variety of new resources, provided 

best practices guidance, hosted roundtables, conducted social media 

campaigns, and undertook a variety of other efforts to ensure that 

election officials have access to the tools they need to carry out these 

responsibilities successfully.

As the nation’s largest and most trusted clearinghouse of election administration information, we 

sought to highlight the most innovative and cost-effective approaches to these challenges. All of this 

information is housed on EAC’s new user-friendly and dynamic website, www.eac.gov, which launched 

in March 2017. 

As we look ahead, we will build on the successes of FY 2017 and continue to be the federal agency that 

election officials and the voters they serve can count on for the latest resources and information about 

election administration. Our talented team and our broad spectrum of partners remain committed to 

helping America vote through secure, accessible, and efficient elections. The justification that follows 

details how we plan to carry out that work in FY 2019, building on the strategic foundation established 

by EAC in FY 2017. 

Detailed information on extensive FY 2017 accomplishments can be found in the EAC Annual Report at

https://www.eac.gov/assets/1/6/EACannualreport_011918.pdf. 

Agency Background:

Congress established the U.S. Election Assistance Commission with the passage of the Help America 

Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The Commission was created to help election officials and administrators 

improve elections around the country. Statutorily, EAC is headed by four bipartisan Commissioners 

appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Currently, there are three 

Commissioners, constituting a quorum. 

HAVA also created the Board of Advisors, the Standards Board, and the Technical Guidelines 

Development Committee (TGDC) to advise EAC. The three groups advise the agency and help it achieve 

its mission, including but not limited to the development of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. 

HAVA dictates the membership of the three statutory groups. The Standards Board is a 110-member 

board consisting of 55 state election officials (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, 
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Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) selected by their respective chief state election official, and 

55 local election officials selected through a process supervised by the chief state election officials. 

The Board of Advisors is comprised of representatives from groups representing governors; mayors; 

state legislatures; secretaries of state; state election directors; county recorders; election officials; 

county clerks; voter advocacy groups; federal agencies; and professionals in the fields of science and 

technology. 

TGDC helps EAC develop its Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. It is composed of 14 members 

appointed jointly by EAC and the Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST), who is the chairperson of TGDC.

Goals and Structure:

EAC’s offices are aligned to address the mandates of the Help America Vote Act to: serve as a 

clearinghouse of information on voting; test and certify voting systems; administer and maintain the 

National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) voter registration form; assist States with administration of 

HAVA funds; and report to Congress on NVRA and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 

Act voting activity.

EAC has created a new Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018 through 2022, available at https://www. 

eac.gov/assets/1/6/strategicplan18_22.pdf. The strategic goals have changed from the five goals in the 

FY 2018 Congressional Budget Justification, from Learn and Communicate, Test and Certify, Help 

Americans Access and Engage in the Voting Process, Fund and Oversee, and Operate Effectively, to four 

strategic goals for 2018 to 2022: Analyze, Build, Distribute and Operate.

Organization Chart
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Operating Plan Summary

Salaries and Expenses FY 17 Enacted

FY 17

Annualized 

Continuing 

Resolution Amount

FY 19

President’s 

Budget Request

Full-Time Equivalent Staff (FTE) 26 30 31

Full-Time Staff 24 28 29

Other than Full-Time Staff 5 5 3

Payroll Full-time Personnel $3,286,053 $ 3,286,053 $ 3,441,839

Payroll Other than Full-time Personnel 301,128 301,128 79,111

Subtotal Personnel Compensation 3,587,181 3,587,181 3,520,950

Personnel Benefits 995,554 995,554 1,065,128

Subtotal PC&B 4,544,467 4,544,467 4,586,078

Travel 411,085 411,085 537,177

Rent, Communications, Equipment Rentals 387,815 387,815 335,242

Printing, Reproduction 30,560 30,560 10,882

Other Services 2,642,318 2,538856 2,126,750

NIST 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 

Supplies and Subscriptions 72,255 72,255 85,480

Equipment 11,500 11,500 18,391

Subtotal, Non-personnel 5,055,533 4,862,661 4,613,922

Total Salaries and Expenses $9,600,000 $ 9,534,806 $ 9,200,000

Note: FY 2019 assumes no Cost of Living Adjustment, and no non-pay inflationary increase. 

FY 2019 Budget Request Highlights

Election officials face cybersecurity threats, our nation’s voting machinery is aging, and there are 

accusations of foreign interference in U.S. Elections. Each day, EAC staff hears from state and local 

election officials requesting assistance with the many challenges and tight deadlines they face with 

limited resources. These challenges are even greater in today’s time of heightened cyber threats and 

increased public attention. 

EAC’s 2019 budget justification highlights plans to continue to help election officials efficiently and 

effectively administer secure elections that inspire public confidence. EAC plans to do this by helping 

election officials secure their elections, interact with and use federally-provided cybersecurity 

resources, develop and share best practices, test and certify voting machines, and research and report 

election administration data.
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Cybersecurity: Helping Election Officials Secure U.S. Elections by Helping Them Secure the 

Elections They Conduct

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated the nation’s election administration

infrastructure as part of the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure, and federal resources for protecting this 

infrastructure are being developed in accordance with the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. This 

designation means changes to U.S. election administration and an opportunity for EAC to provide even 

more robust cybersecurity resources to states and election administrators. EAC has taken on a 

continually expanding workload in the form of helping election officials navigate key conversations with 

the federal government and understand best practices in light of the designation. To this end, EAC is 

working with the Department of Homeland Security to share information and provide technical 

assistance as requested by election officials and their professional associations. EAC is a member of the 

Government Coordinating Council (GCC), a crucial component of DHS’s critical infrastructure 

operational framework, and the GCC’s Executive Committee. As such, EAC meets regularly with DHS on 

this front. Understanding how critical the cybersecurity of the nation’s elections systems are, all groups 

will continue to work together to identify vulnerabilities in the election infrastructure and prevent 

cybersecurity breaches.

DHS’s critical infrastructure designation is only part of the EAC’s increased cybersecurity role following 

the 2016 election. Election officials are operators of complex IT systems that face current, persistent, 

and adaptive threats from new types of actors, such as nation states. The role of IT manager is not new 

to election officials, but the sophistication and volume of the threats they face is. So they need more 

resources, such as best practices in cybersecurity, than ever before. As such and in pursuit of its charge 

to be the nation’s clearinghouse on best election administration practices, EAC is directing increased 

resources to understanding these cyber threats and helping election officials prepare to defend their 

systems against them. This effort involves more than the resources provided under the critical 

infrastructure designation. It involves taking a global perspective on cyber-threat prevention and 

ensuring that election officials have access to all of the resources and information they need to protect 

their systems. 

There are thousands of election administration systems in the U.S., and 

each has the potential to be a target of a cyber-attack. The EAC plans to 

help election officials prepare and defend these systems under its HAVA 

charge.

EAC and the National Institute of Standards and Testing

EAC will work with the National Institute of Standards and Testing (NIST) on developing the 

cybersecurity framework as it relates to elections as critical infrastructure and on disseminating 

Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) version 2.0 in FY 2019. EAC manages and maintains the 

only national standard and testing program for voting systems, including voting machines, and the 

agency plans to continue to develop and maintain this standard to further increase the cyber-defenses 

of the country’s election systems. EAC plans to present a new version of the VVSG to the commission 

for a vote on their adoption in 2018, but in order to test voting systems to the highest quality, new test 

assertions and scenarios need to be developed to accompany these standards. This work as well as 
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general standard-setting and voting machine testing will be critical in FY 2019 as the nation prepares 

for the General election in 2020.

Voter Registration List Maintenance

Another vital resource that EAC provides to election officials and plans to continue to provide in FY

2019 is information about best practices for voter registration list maintenance, including data 

matching criteria, efficient data sharing procedures and ways to best incorporate online voter 

registration, a growing trend in election administration. Voter registration list maintenance is critical to 

public confidence in elections. Voter registration lists contain voters’ personal information and security 

breaches of this information can affect voter confidence and therefore decrease voter turnout. Also, 

voter list maintenance is essential to ensuring the integrity of an election because voter lists are the 

mechanism which allows election officials to check to be sure that only voters who are allowed to vote 

in a particular election are voting in that election. During FY 2019 and FY 2020, countless voter 

registration drives leading up to the 2020 presidential election will result in the changing of registration 

statuses of a large number of U.S. citizens. During this time, list maintenance practices will be 

absolutely essential. As such, EAC plans to focus efforts on list maintenance in FY 2019. 

When voter registration lists are well maintained, voters have 

increased confidence in elections, and EAC will continue work to 

help ensure this.

Studying Election Administration: The Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) and 

Other Research

Federal law mandates that EAC collect, study, and distribute information on particular aspects of 

election administration and voting. This survey, EAVS, is the most comprehensive survey of election

administration practices and data in the country, and many election jurisdictions, federal entities, and 

academics rely on this information. EAVS 2018 will be distributed to Congress June 30, 2019, and work 

will then begin on the 2020 survey. EAC plans to continue to produce EAVS and improve how it is 

produced. This is a critical resource, and EAC will work to ensure that it is high quality, accurate, and 

useful.

Budgetary Changes FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution Amount to 

FY 2019 President’s Budget Request

(in whole dollars)

Personnel Compensation and Benefits.....................................................................................+$3,343

Reflects an increase of one full-time employee and decrease of 2 intermittent 

employees; no cost of living adjustment 

Travel........................................................................................................................................+$126,092 

Increase outreach efforts 

Other Services.........................................................................................................................(-$412,106)

 Reduce contracts -- services to be provided by staff or postponed 

Miscellaneous...............................................................................................................................+$2,347 

Telecommunications and equipment rentals (-$52,573 with a new phone system),

printing (-$19,678), supplies and subscriptions (+$13,225), equipment (+$6,891) 
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Budget Requests and Performance Measures by Strategic Plan Goal

EAC’s request is presented in terms of four goals: 1. Analyze, 2. Build, 3. Distribute, and 4. Operate:

ANALYZE

Strategic Goal 1: Expand the nation’s comprehensive understanding of American election 

administration. $1,814,308

Goal 1 is led by EAC’s Research & Data Division, with input from the Communications and Information 

Technology (IT) Divisions. Objectives and success indicators for the goal are as follows:

OBJECTIVES

Objectives of the goal include continuing to expand the EAC’s existing in-depth understanding of the 

administration of American elections; helping others contribute to the nation’s understanding of 

American election administration; and leveraging the EAC’s research to guide agency decision-making.

SUCCESS INDICATORS

The anticipated success indicators of the goal are: analysis of Election Administration and Voting Survey 

(EAVS) data that produces insights into U.S. Election Administration; successfully creating tools to make 

both responding to the EAVS and analyzing EAVS data easier; increases in the number of entities 

providing information, research, and data related to American election administration; improvement in 

the quality of data collected related to American election administration; and the ability to better use 

EAC research to better design EAC assistance.

The Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

EAC administers and oversees the biennial Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) of the 50 

States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. EAVS 

is a comprehensive collection and report of data on election administration and voting systems in the 

United States. The survey, performed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense ‘s Federal 

Voting Assistance Program, collects over one million data points of information about voter 

registration, number of ballots cast, military and overseas voting, absentee ballots, polling places, poll 

workers, and provisional ballots from state election officials. The survey data is used by election 

officials, academics, and others to improve their methods, metrics, and tactics in serving voters and 

maintaining voter registration lists.

Collection of much of the data is Congressionally-mandated: EAC uses the survey to help inform 

Congress on the Impact of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) on the Administration of 

Elections for Federal Office, and on the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 

(UOCAVA).
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Best Practices in Election Administration Research

In addition to administering EAVS, EAC also conducts regular research on election administration, best 

practices, and stakeholder needs. One way that EAC conducts this research is by holding an annual 

competition for best practices in election administration called The Clearies. EAC uses The Clearies to 

source best practices from successful stakeholders across the country and then communicate these 

best practices to our broader stakeholder base. Additionally, EAC convenes experts, facilitates 

conversations, and connects researchers to analyze and understand the current best practices in 

election administration so that the agency can pass on this knowledge under its charge to be the 

nation’s clearinghouse of election administration. This work helps the nation’s thousands of semiautonomous election jurisdictions from having to “re-create the wheel” when they are designing and 

implementing their own practices, policies, and procedures.

The FY 2019 Request

In June 2018, EAC will release the Comprehensive Report on the 2016 Election Administration and 

Voting Survey. The survey report will include the 2018 Statutory Overview, a review of certain State 

election laws. Work will then begin on the 2018 Election Administration and Voting Survey, which will 

be released by June 30, 2020.

Further, the FY 2019 request includes funds for forums to bring together election officials, technology 

innovators, individuals with disabilities, accessibility equipment and voting system manufacturers, 

academics, computer programmers and security experts, voting system standards developers, and 

website developers and designers. Information from the forums will be used to develop a wide range of 

best practices for posting on the EAC website. Examples include creating suggested best practices on 

subjects such as reaching voters with disabilities, vote centers, electronic pollbook use and early voting.

The FY 2019 request includes funds for staff; $20,096 for staff and invitational travel for discussion 

groups, panels and summits (accessibility, language, data); $954 for printing Federal Register notices; 

and $28,459 for supplies and media subscriptions. 

Build

Strategic Goal 2: Proactively and responsively create products that help election officials 

improve the administration of elections and help voters more easily participate in elections.

$2,132,052

Goal 2 is led by EAC’s Research & Data Division and Testing and Certification Program, with input from 

the Communications, Finance, and IT Divisions. Objectives and success indicators for the goal are as 

follows:
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OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the goal are to continually create resources that help election officials improve the 

administration of elections and help voters participate in elections and to responsively create resources 

that respond to newly arising needs of election officials and voters.

SUCCESS INDICATORS

The anticipated success indicators of the goal are that designed assistance products created to fulfill a 

specific need of EAC stakeholders; feedback from stakeholders indicating ease of use and 

implementation; and rates of use for products by the stakeholder group that the product was intended 

to serve.

Voting System Testing and Certification

Under HAVA, EAC is responsible for assisting States with improvements to voting systems through the 

distribution of Federal funds and by creating and administering a voluntary voting machine testing and 

certification program. The testing program creates standards against which voting machines can be 

tested, works with EAC-accredited labs to test vendor-submitted machines against these standards, 

and certifies machines that successfully pass these tests. The program is transparent. It publishes all 

test plans, test reports and related information as well as reports on voting system anomalies in the 

field during use in an election. Use of the program by the states is voluntary, but 47 states use it in 

some way when deciding which voting systems to use in their elections.

EAC works continuously to reduce the cost of voting system testing without compromising voting 

system quality and conformance through use of automated source code review tools by EAC-accredited 

Voting System Test Laboratories (VSTLs) and similar innovative uses of technology. Comprehensive

procedures for the program are detailed in EAC’s Voting System Testing and Certification Program 

Manual, which is available online. 

The program also:

 supports local election 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 manufacturers for the testing and certification of voting systems to 

specified Federal standards as required by HAVA Section 231(a)(1).

In addition to its certification duties, the division works in a cooperative and coordinated manner with 

the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to evaluate and accredit VSTLs. As a 

condition of accreditation, all VSTLs must hold a valid accreditation from NIST’s National Voluntary 

Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). 

NVLAP accreditation is the primary means by which EAC helps ensure that each VSTL meets and 

continues to meet the technical requirements of the EAC program. NVLAP uses international standard 

ISO 17025 to review each VSTL’s technical, physical and personnel resources, as well as its testing, 
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management, and quality assurance policies and protocols. EAC monitors VSTLs through a 

comprehensive compliance management program and on-site reviews to ensure that VSTLs meet all 

program requirements. 

In addition to voting system certification and laboratory accreditation, EAC along with its 110-member 

Standards Board, 37-member Board of Advisors, and 15-member Technical Guidelines Development 

Committee (TGDC) work together to update and implement voluntary testing guidelines for voting 

systems. 

The FY 2019 Request

The Voting System Testing and Certification Program will work on providing information on voting 

system sustainability. The division will also continue ongoing efforts to educate and train users on 

revisions to the VVSG. After the release of VVSG 2.0, the TGDC, the Commissioners and EAC staff will 

start work on the next VVSG. 

The FY 2019 request includes payroll and benefits for staff; $55,927 for travel including educational 

meetings on the next iteration of the VVSG and on cybersecurity; $8,715 for webinar services to reduce 

travel costs and travel time; $159 for Federal Register notices; $4,000 for training and conference 

registration fees; and $245 for software. 

Annual Non-Expenditure Transfer to NIST

EAC will work with NIST to set priorities for FY 2019. The focus in FY 2019 will be finalization of VVSG 

2.0 and cybersecurity. We plan to work with NIST on finishing test requirements and scripts that apply 

to the VVSG, and developing the cybersecurity framework as it relates to elections as critical 

infrastructure. The EAC-NIST Public Working Group on Cybersecurity is one of three groups aimed at

collecting requirements from processes and functions conducted by election officials during preelection, election, and post-election. Four constituency groups have been created to identify the

corresponding technical requirements in human factors (usability & accessibility), cybersecurity,

interoperability, and testing. The cybersecurity group will hold meetings to discuss and develop 

guidance for voting system cybersecurity-related issues, including security controls and auditing 

capabilities. The guidance will be used in the ongoing development of the VVSG. We anticipate the 

Working Group on Cybersecurity will also research and discuss threats and security technologies to 

assist election officials in the performance of their duties.

The FY 2019 Request

In 2019, EAC includes a request for the annual non-expenditure transfer to NIST at $1,500,000 for 

activities required under HAVA Sections 221 Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC), 231 

Certification and Testing of Voting Systems, and 245 Study and Report on Electronic Voting and the 

Electoral Process.

National Mail Voter Registration Form

EAC administers the National Mail Voter Registration Form prescribed by the National Voter 

Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), known as “Motor Voter”. The form is updated when the States 
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request changes to their instructions, and translated for required languages. Each state, the District of 

Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands has its own instructions on 

how to complete the form, which include voter registration rules and regulations. 

The form is available on www.eac.gov in English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and 

Vietnamese. The Election Management Program, including user-friendly Quick Start Guide educational 

materials, provides information to State and local election officials and voters on topics such as voter 

registration, and Uniformed and Overseas voters. EAC provides informational materials on the Federal 

election process and election terminology in languages other than English. 

The FY 2019 Request

The FY 2019 request includes funds for staff and $4,880 for translations of educational materials and 

the voter registration form.

DISTRIBUTE

Strategic Goal 3: Help election officials improve the administration of American elections 

through the distribution of EAC assistance and products. $3,753,640

Goal 3 is led by the Communications Division with input from the Research & Data, IT, and Finance 

Divisions. Objectives and success indicators for the goal are as follows:

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the goal are to effectively and efficiently distribute federal resources to EAC 

stakeholders; serve as an expert on the administration of American elections; regularly distribute EAC 

products on timelines that align with stakeholders’ needs; and distribute EAC assistance through 

methods designed to facilitate stakeholder use. 

SUCCESS INDICATORS

The anticipated success indicators for the goal are usage of EAC assistance identifiable through

feedback from EAC stakeholders; ability to design and distribute EAC products identifiable through

feedback from EAC staff and self-surveying metrics; ability of the Communications Division to provide 

front-end guidance regarding the design of EAC products in Strategic Goal 2 programs identifiable 

through feedback and self-surveying metrics; and increased rates of reception of EAC products through 

designed distribution mediums.

EAC Elections Clearinghouse

The Division is responsible for communicating with the media and stakeholders, including election 

officials, academics, policy-makers, advocacy groups and the public. The Communications Division 

manages the agency’s clearinghouse of information, housed on its website, www.eac.gov. 
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The website provides a central location for best practices, shared practices, innovation and creative 

solutions in election administration. The website also contains external and internal communications 

produced by the Division such as press releases, news articles and speeches, informational videotapes 

about the programs, Twitter feeds, blog posts, a monthly newsletter about EAC’s activities and events. 

The FY 2019 Request

The FY 2019 request includes funds for staff, $2,138 for travel, the EAC website contract at $177,549,

and $28,459 for media subscription services.

Payments and Grants

EAC’s Payments and Grants program is responsible for distributing payment and grant funds; 

monitoring grantee performance; providing technical assistance to States and grantees on the use of 

funds; and reporting on requirements payments and other funds to improve administration of elections 

for Federal office. The office recommends actions to resolve audit findings on the use of HAVA funds. 

Via a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the unit 

sets indirect cost rates with grantees. 

The office provides technical assistance on use of funds not yet reported as spent by the States on the 

annual Federal Financial Reports (balance of payments and grants plus interest), and on the use of an 

estimated $1,003,984,519 in Federal HAVA funds for voting and voting-related equipment (see chart 

below). The following chart estimates initial value of voting and voting-related equipment 

purchased by the states using Federal HAVA funds for FYs 2012 through 2016. Amounts are aggregate 

and reported in the fiscal year proceeding the year the expense was incurred. (Note that the chart does 

not reflect equipment that has been sold or otherwise disposed of as it reaches the end of its useful 

life.) 

FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Section 102 Funds $90,122 $137,401 $ (267,813) $ (10,769) $ 0

Section 251 Funds 40,410,437 43,417,090 168,169,476 75,586,153 110,248,566

Total $40,500,559 $43,554,491 $167,901,663 $75,575,384 $110,248,566

Source: States, as part of annual financial and narrative reports

The FY 2019 Request

For FY 2019, goals include achieving the performance targets for timeliness, including resolving 100 

percent of audit findings within established timeframes, awarding grants in established timeframes, 

and submitting references to State Plans to the Federal Register within 30 days of receipt.

The request includes funds for staff; an estimated $3,291 for site visit travel; $100,000 for a financial 

management support contract, including pre- and post-audit technical assistance to the States; and 

$5,000 for the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

for indirect cost rate negotiation services.

NOTE: The detailed OIG direct request of $1,052,730 appears as an attachment to this document.
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OPERATE 

Strategic Goal 4: Ensure continued effective operation of the EAC in order to achieve its 

goals while acting as good stewards of public funds.

Goal 4 is administered by the Executive Director with contributions from all EAC divisions. Objectives 

and success indicators for the goal are as follows:

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the goal are to contribute positively and effectively to the federal government

through active contribution and compliance; continue to build a skilled, diverse, and effective 

workforce that ensures that the EAC has the human capital needed to achieve its mission; develop and 

continue to manage internal structures and tools that produce a culture of innovation and a driven 

workforce; and institutionalize an increased level of strategic and cross-agency thinking.

SUCCESS INDICATORS

The anticipated success indicators of the goal are that new inter-agency programs that provide unique 

value or generate efficiencies; continuing compliance with federal regulations and mandates; and 

internal strategic planning capacity development at the division and programmatic level.

Performance Improvement

Management works to foster a culture of accountability among staff to meet annual performance 

measures. The agency is seeking to achieve management excellence through continuous improvement 

of internal controls. Agency directors responsible for implementation of the EAC Strategic Plan goals 

report on their division activities throughout the year. 

EAC will continue to focus on working with managers on the relationship between budget and 

performance, maximizing efficient use of staff and financial resources, and training EAC staff on 

financial management processes and their specific, individual responsibilities.

Internal Controls

EAC obtained a clean audit opinion on agency financial statements in FY 2017. For the annual financial 

statement audits, EAC has a shared drive repository of internal control testing and other back-up 

materials and uses the Office of Management and Budget MAX platform to receive deliverables from 

BFS, produce deliverables, and upload them for the auditors. 

Effectiveness and Efficiency Measures

EAC strives to improve effectiveness, particularly as it relates to customer service to citizens, and 

efficiency as it relates to productivity and cost savings:

Transfer to one of the four Federal Shared Services providers 

In line with guidance in the President’s Management Agenda, and the performance government crossagency priority goal, EAC switched financial and procurement services to Treasury. Treasury is one of 
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the four agencies, in addition to Agriculture, Transportation, and Interior, chosen for the effort to 

eliminate duplication and enable agencies to direct more resources from administrative expenses to 

programs.

Streamlining Acquisitions

In February 2012, EAC outsourced the contracting officer function to Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal 

Service (BFS). EAC fully-automated its procurement function on July 1, 2012 by implementing the BFS 

PRISM system, replacing use of hard-copy procurement forms. Commercial invoices are processed 

through the Internet Payment Platform. Further, purchase-card order payments have been automated 

with CitiDirect Services through the MOU with BFS. BFS is in the process of implementing g-invoicing 

for interagency invoices and payments.

EAC relies heavily on GSA schedule procurements for negotiated-rate contracts and on Memoranda of

Understanding with, or transfers of funds to, other Federal agencies. Both options provide low-risk 

procurements at substantial cost savings in terms of lower prices, strategic sourcing, award time and 

internal operational efficiencies. Further, EAC uses BFS-required performance work statements in lieu 

of cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contracts to improve the quality of proposals and 

performance from vendors. 

e-Travel

On July 1, 2012, EAC implemented BFS’s e-travel system. Travel authorizations and vouchers are fully 

automated, replacing hard copy authorization and voucher forms. Outstanding balances are removed 

from authorizations when vouchers are processed.

Minimize utilization of office and storage space

EAC moved to open office space in October 2013 in a federal building at the Silver Spring, Maryland 

metro station. EAC reduced the amount of leased space from 17,548 square feet to 6,900 in the 

replacement lease. In order to fit into a smaller footprint and comply with records management 

requirements, EAC has completed the majority of the work needed for a paperless office environment, 

with files stored electronically or inexpensively at the National Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA) Federal Records Center according to their retention schedules. NARA can return boxes to the 

agency as needed so staff can update or refer to materials in the stored files. EAC stores records at 

NARA in lieu of housing files in higher cost leased office space.

Telecommuting

Pursuant to the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, some EAC staff participate in telecommuting. A

majority of staff participate in the subsidized public transit program further reducing emissions, 

commuting time and transit costs are generally decreased, and work-life balance is improved because 

Individuals are better able to balance work and personal obligations. EAC is equipped to deal with 

continuity of operations disruptions by operating off-site. 

Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure

The Office of the Information Technology continues to explore new innovations to update and improve 

network services for security, availability, efficiency and productivity. EAC operates its own 

infrastructure, using GSA’s backbone for security purposes. The IT staff of two maintains personal 
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computers, smart phones, and servers; provides software requested by EAC staff, remote access 

services, and an interactive voice response telephone system; performs vulnerability scans (in addition 

to GSA’s backbone infrastructure scans); and remediates and updates security patches so that staff are 

equipped to perform work both on- and off-site in a secure environment.

GSA manages a firewall, external intrusion detection, T1 lines and routers and switches for Federal 

Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance on EAC’s behalf. EAC’s cyber security 

management needs are covered by GSA through an annual Memorandum of Understanding for IT 

services and equipment at approximately $70,000 for FY 2019. The agreement funds the tools that 

enable GSA to continuously monitor EAC's IT systems security as described in OMB M-10-15, FY 2010 

Reporting Instructions for the FISMA and Agency Privacy Management dated April 21, 2010. In FY 2017, 

EAC received a clean opinion on its FISMA audit.

Status of Management Challenges

EAC’s Inspector General reported on three categories of management challenges in October 2017: 

performance management and accountability, records management, and the effect on EAC of the 

election systems as critical infrastructure designation. The new Strategic Plan closes the performance 

management and accountability challenge recommendations. Regarding records management, records 

retention schedules for the Research & Data Division and Testing and Certification Program have been 

developed. EAC is planning a system to organize and archive emails.

Improper Payments

The Improper Payments Act requires each Federal agency to assess all programs and identify which, if 

any, may be subject to high risk with respect to improper payments. EAC does not believe that it has 

any programs where the erroneous payments could exceed 2.5 percent of program payments or $10.0 

million threshold (set in OMB Guidance) to trigger further agency action.

Mandated Reports to Congress 

EAC continues to provide an annual report of EAC activities to Congress by January 31 of each year for 

the preceding year ending September 30. The current report was released January 31, 2017.

EAC continues to provide a biennial report on the impact of the NVRA by June 30 of each oddnumbered year. The latest report was released on June 29, 2017.

EAC provides recommendations to improve election data collection and data provided to Congress in 

the biennial report on the Election Administration and Voting released in the fall of the year 

subsequent to the Federal election. The current report was released on June 29, 2017.
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Attachment A

Office of Inspector General

BACKGROUND

The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is a bipartisan Commission created 

and authorized by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The Office of Inspector 

General (OIG) was established by HAVA and the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act), as 

amended, to provide independent and objective reporting to EAC and Congress through its audit 

and investigative activities. 

Charged with the identification and prevention of waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal resources, 

the OIG strives to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness in EAC programs and 

operations. To accomplish this goal, OIG conducts regular audits of recipients of grant funds 

distributed by the EAC, annual audits of EAC’s operations, and periodic reviews and audits of 

EAC program operations and transactions. In addition, the OIG conducts investigations in 

response to allegations against EAC, its grant recipients, or other third parties involved in EAC 

programs.

THE BUDGET IN SUMMARY

OIG’s fiscal year (FY) 2019 request of $1,052,730 includes $3,000 as a transfer to the Council 

of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) in keeping with the provisions of the 

Inspector General Reform Act of 2008. The request also includes $5,000 for costs associated 

with training and professional development for OIG’s full-time employees.

OIG ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS

OIG primarily engages in three activities or projects: auditing grant programs, conducting 

investigations of grant recipients or other third parties related to EAC programs, and conducting 

audits and investigations of EAC programs and operations.

Auditing Grant Programs

Section 902 of HAVA gives EAC and other agencies making a grant or payment the authority 

to conduct audits of any recipients of funds. EAC is further authorized to conduct regular audits 

of funds distributed under HAVA. OIG conducts those audits on behalf of EAC. 

Over the past several years, OIG has focused on auditing the large grants distributed to states 

under Title II of HAVA. These grants represent the vast majority of grant funds distributed by 

the EAC. The objectives of the state audits are to determine whether the state: (1) expended 

HAVA payments in accordance with the HAVA and related administrative requirements; and 

(2) complied with the HAVA requirements for replacing punch card or lever voting machines, 

establishing an election fund, appropriating five percent matching funds, and maintaining state 

expenditures for elections at a level not less than expended in the state’s base fiscal year.
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OIG’s program to ensure economy, efficiency and integrity in the use of funds is not limited to 

audits. OIG has also worked with the EAC to help educate states on the requirements that are 

associated with federal funding. 

In the coming fiscal years, OIG will continue to work to protect the federal investment in the 

electoral process and to promote economy, efficiency, and integrity in EAC grant programs 

through its audit and education programs.

Investigations

When allegations are made concerning the misappropriation of HAVA funds, the OIG is 

responsible for investigating those allegations. OIG has instituted a number of activities to 

improve and increase information available to EAC employees and the general public about 

how and when to make complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. OIG operates a 

web site that includes the ability to file an on-line complaint. 

OIG does not currently employ an investigator. When issues arise that require investigation, 

OIG contracts with other government agencies for investigative services. 

Internal Audits

OIG is also responsible for conducting reviews, audits, and investigations of EAC’s internal 

policies, procedures, and actions. Over the past several fiscal years, OIG has conducted a 

number of internal reviews. OIG has issued at total of 37 reports regarding EAC’s operations. 

These reports assess the efficiency of EAC’s operation and its compliance with governing 

statutes and regulations, including compliance with the Federal Information Security 

Management Act (FISMA), the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act, and 

compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations.

OIG GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In FY 2019, OIG will continue to monitor spending by EAC grant recipients, conducting 

external investigations, and auditing and investigating EAC programs and operations as needed. 

OIG is currently staffed by one full-time employee, the Inspector General. OIG will continue to 

use contract auditors in FY 2019 to conduct audits. 

GOAL 1: Protect the Federal investment in our electoral system.

The Federal government has made a sizable investment in the American electoral system. 

Congress has appropriated $3.25 billion in grant funds to the states for improvement of election 

infrastructure and processes. 

OIG relies primarily on contract auditors to conduct audits of these grants to states. Budgetary 

restrictions will require that we continue to rely on contractors to conduct the majority of the 
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audits of grant recipients. OIG will continue to focus efforts on monitoring spending of the 

$3.25 billion in grants appropriated to the states.

GOAL 2: Promote economy, efficiency and integrity in EAC programs and operations.

A critical portion of the OIG mission is to promote economy and efficiency in government 

programs and operations and to detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in 

government programs and involving government resources. OIG fulfills this portion of its 

mission by conducting audits and evaluations of EAC operations, including contracting for an 

annual audit of financial statements and a review of compliance with the Federal Information 

Security Management Act (FISMA). While these two reviews cover a large portion of EAC’s 

operations on an annual basis, OIG also conducts audits and evaluations of programs or specific 

EAC transactions. 

OIG is also charged with identifying and investigating waste, fraud and abuse in EAC programs 

and operations. To meet this requirement, OIG operates a hotline that allows people to make 

complaints via telephone, fax, email, mail, and on-line. Using the web site the OIG reaches out 

to those persons involved with EAC and its programs, as well as those impacted by those 

programs to ensure they know how and where to make complaints of fraud, waste, abuse, or 

mismanagement.

OIG can help ensure integrity in EAC programs and operations by investigating alleged waste, 

fraud or abuse. Complaints from the hotline as well as information from audits and evaluations 

can identify potential civil or criminal wrongdoing. When OIG identifies potential wrongdoing, 

it can institute an investigation. OIG will continue to rely upon interagency agreements with 

other offices of Inspector General to conduct investigations of fraud, waste, abuse and 

mismanagement.

GOAL 3: Effectively communicate successes and opportunities for improvement.

OIG uses various tools to communicate with the EAC, the Congress, and the general public 

concerning the status of EAC’s programs and operations as well as OIG’s activities in 

conducting audits, evaluations, inspections, and investigations. OIG issues reports following 

each formal engagement, regardless of type. Reports are disbursed to the entity that is the 

subject of the audit or evaluation, as well as the EAC and, when appropriate, oversight and 

appropriations committees of Congress.

OIG also produces two semi-annual reports to Congress in each fiscal year. Those reports 

summarize the audit, evaluation, inspection and investigation reports issued by OIG during the 

relevant six months. The documents also report on OIG activities by including statistics such as 

the number of findings that are outstanding, the amount of costs that were questioned, as well as 

how much in federal funding could be put to better use.

OIG also uses technology to communicate with its stakeholders and the public. The OIG 

operates a web site where it makes information available concerning its operations, issued 
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reports, rights and protections for whistleblowers, as well as an on-line form for making 

complaints of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. 

In FY 2019, OIG will continue its outreach efforts to keep EAC, Congress and the public 

informed of OIG’s activities as well as its reviews of EAC programs and operations.

GOAL 4: Effective and efficient OIG operations.

As OIG evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of EAC programs and operations, it is 

important for the OIG to ensure that its operations are effective and efficient, including having 

the needed policies, procedures and practices to underpin its operations. OIG will focus on 

providing a supportive working environment including providing professional education and 

training for its employees. All OIG employees will be required to meet the continuing education

requirements applicable under the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards.

OIG BUDGET REQUEST BY OBJECT CLASS

FY 2017 

Enacted

FY 2017 

Annualized 

Continuing 

Resolution 

Amount

FY 2019 

Request

Personal Compensation and 

Benefits

11.1 Full-time permanent $ 151,262 $ 153,200 $ 153,200

11.9 Total personal compensation 151,262 153,200 153,200

12.1 Civilian personnel benefits 55,337 55,540 55,730

Contractual Services and Supplies

21 Travel, training and oversight 10,000 10,000 10,000 

24 Printing and reproduction 1,000 1,000 1,000 

25.2 Other services 802,245 792,460 786,700

25.3 Other purchases of goods and 

services from Government accounts 35,000 35,000 35,000 

26 Supplies and materials 3,600 3,600 3,600 

Acquisition of Assets

31 Equipment 4,500 4,500 4,500 

94 Financial Transfers 2,355 3,000 3,000

Total Program $ 1,065,299 $ 1,058,300 $ 1,052,730