The Election Administration and 

Voting Survey 

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

March 9, 2012

1
Brief Overview

•The Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) and how it has 

changed over time

•The types of data collected through the EAVS

•How states report their data to EAC

• The challenges EAC has observed with the collection and reporting of 

states’ data

•Looking ahead: The 2014 EAVS

2
About the EAVS Survey

EAC has administered the Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) since 

2004. 

• Prior to 2004, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) collected data on voter 

registration and list maintenance at the state level. 

• In 2004 EAC issued 3 separate surveys (NVRA, UOCAVA, and EDS). 

• Captured data at the state level

• Paper format

• In 2006 EAC issued one combined survey. 

• Captured data at the state and county levels

• Web survey

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About the EAVS Survey (cont.)

EAC introduced new changes for 2008:

•Instead of a web survey EAC issued an Excel-based template for data reporting

•EAC altered the question wording for clarity, eliminated and/or introduced new 

questions 

•EAC split the survey into two separate parts:

•Statutory Overview – asks states about their election administration laws and 

procedures

•Quantitative section – requests statistical information on NVRA, UOCAVA, and 

other areas of election administration.

•Maintained the request for state and county data

This basic structure has remained the same for 2008, 2010, and 2012.

4
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

2006 2008 2010

Number of Jurisdictions

Survey Year

Response to EAVS

Total number of

jurisdictions reporting

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About the EAVS Survey (cont.)

The types of data collected in the survey:

•Voter registration 

•Number of registered voters

•Number of active and inactive voters

•Sources of the voter registration applications

•Number of voters removed from the rolls

•UOCAVA 

•Number of ballots transmitted, returned, counted, and rejected

•Poll workers 

•Provisional balloting

•Turnout

•Domestic absentee and early voting

•Type of voting equipment used

6
Reporting data to EAC

•EAC considers the state to be the reporting unit (not the local 

jurisdictions)

•The states typically rely on their EMSs/VRDs to provide EAC with the 

requested data 

•Top-down (centralized) vs. bottom-up systems

•According to the 2010 Statutory Overview, 38 out of 54 states and 

territories (70%) reported having a top-down system and the 

remaining 16 a bottom-up system or some sort of hybrid. 

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Reporting data to EAC (cont.)

The primary survey instrument designed to assist the States in collecting and 

reporting their statistical data is a Microsoft Excel-based template, preloaded 

with each State’s jurisdictions. Most States submit their data using this tool.

States also have access to a Microsoft Word-based template that can be 

distributed to their local jurisdictions.

The length of time it takes a state to respond to the survey varies tremendously.

• Some states indicate that it takes 5-10 days; for others it can take 2-3 

months.

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9
States’ Data Collection and Reporting Challenges 

• There has been improvement over time

• However, some challenges remain:

• Differences in how state (local) databases are set up

• Election terminology

• Variation in how/whether certain data elements are collected – level 

of detail

• Accuracy of the data and ability to categorize the data

• Facility with the use of technology

• Turnover in state and local staffing and personnel; loss of historical 

knowledge

10
Looking Ahead: The 2014 EAVS

Anticipate changes to the UOCAVA section of the survey

• EAC and the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) have 

discussed the possibility of merging their respective UOCAVA 

questions so that States have to answer these questions once.

• In the spring EAC and FVAP will continue discussions around the 

specific questions that will appear on the 2014 survey and will 

have a draft finalized soon thereafter.

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Questions?

Shelly Anderson

Deputy Research Director

sanderson@eac.gov