Skip to main content    

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.            

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**              A **lock** (  LockA locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.            

https://www.nist.gov/itl/voting/test-assertions-vvsg-10-section-311-august-2015

            -  Topics  -  All Topics 
-  Advanced communications 
-  Artificial intelligence 
-  Bioscience 
-  Buildings and construction 
-  Chemistry 
-  Climate 
-  Cybersecurity 
-  Electronics 
-  Energy 
-  Environment 
-  Fire 
-  Forensic science 
-  Health 
-  Information technology 
-  Infrastructure 
-  Manufacturing 
-  Materials 
-  Mathematics and statistics 
-  Metrology 
-  Nanotechnology 
-  Neutron research 
-  Performance excellence 
-  Physics 
-  Public safety 
-  Resilience 
-  Standards 
-  Transportation 
 
            -  Publications 
            -  Labs & Major Programs  -  Laboratories    -  Communications Technology Laboratory 
  -  Engineering Laboratory 
  -  Information Technology Laboratory 
  -  Material Measurement Laboratory 
  -  Physical Measurement Laboratory 
-  User Facilities    -  NIST Center for Neutron Research 
  -  CNST NanoFab 
-  Research Test Beds 
-  Research Projects 
-  Tools & Instruments 
-  Major Programs    -  Baldrige Performance Excellence Program 
  -  CHIPS for America Initiative 
  -  Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 
  -  Office of Advanced Manufacturing 
  -  Special Programs Office 
  -  Technology Partnerships Office 
 
            -  Services & Resources  -  Standards and Measurements    -  Calibration Services 
  -  Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP) 
  -  Quality System 
  -  Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) 
  -  Standards.gov 
  -  Time Services 
  -  Office of Weights and Measures 
-  Software 
-  Data    -  Chemistry WebBook 
  -  National Vulnerability Database 
  -  Physical Reference Data 
  -  Standard Reference Data (SRD) 
-  Storefront 
-  License & Patents 
-  Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) 
-  NIST Research Library 
 
            -  News & Events  -  News 
-  Events 
-  Blogs 
-  Feature Stories 
-  Awards 
-  Video Gallery 
-  Image Gallery 
-  Media Contacts 
 
            -  About NIST  -  About Us    -  Leadership 
  -  Organization Structure 
  -  Budget & Planning 
-  Contact Us 
-  Visit 
-  Careers    -  Student programs 
-  Work with NIST 
-  History    -  NIST Digital Archives 
  -  NIST Museum 
  -  NIST and the Nobel 
-  Educational Resources 
 

Information Technology Laboratory

## Voting

-  Research and Projects  Expand or Collapse    -  VVSG 
  -  TGDC 
  -  Test Labs 
  -  Accessibility and Human Factors 
  -  Election Security 
  -  Interoperability 
-  Events 
-  About Us 
-  History of Voting  Expand or Collapse    -  Archived Research Papers 
-  Contact Us 

# Test Assertions for VVSG 1.0 Section 3.1.1, August 2015

## Share

Facebook

Linkedin

Twitter

Email

**Requirement 3.1.1**

**VVSG 1.0 Requirement 3.1.1:**The vendor shall conduct summative usability tests on the voting system using individuals representative of the general population. The vendor shall document the testing performed and report the test results using the Common Industry Format. This documentation shall be included in the Technical Data Package submitted to the EAC for national certification.

**Test Assertions**

**TA311-1:** The manufacturer SHALL conduct realistic summative usability tests on the voting system with respect to the visual interface implementing the 3.1 requirements.

**TA311-2:** The summative usability tests SHALL be performed upon a completely functioning product.

**TA311-3:** The summative usability tests SHALL use representatives of the population under test not requiring use of accessibility features (as required in section 3.2, VVSG 1.0).

**TA311-3-1:** The population under test SHALL consist of a mix of voters including, but not limited to, users of different ages, genders, ethnicities, levels of education, voting experience.

**TA311-3-2:** The population under test SHALL consist of voters who are eligible to vote in the U.S.

**TA311-3-3:** The population under test SHALL NOT consist of voters who are, or have been, a poll worker, a voting machine manufacturer, a voting machine developer, in the marketing or sales of voting systems, or involved in any other position that is part of the voting process.

**TA311-3-4:** The population under test SHALL NOT consist of voters who are involved with a usability or market research business/company.

**TA311-3-5:** The population under test SHOULD NOT consist of voters who have previously participated in a voting system usability test.

**TA311-4:** The manufacturer SHALL report the total number of participants tested and demographics of the participants.

**TA311-5:** Manufacturers SHOULD describe their recruiting strategy.

**TA311-6:** The manufacturer SHOULD detail any compensation given to participants.

**TA311-7:** The manufacturer SHALL describe how the voters were screened and selected.

**TA311-8:** The manufacturer SHOULD note any differences between the users profiled as recruits and the users who participated in the actual study.

**TA311-9:** The manufacturer SHALL ensure that at least eight test participants are able to complete the testing session, without assistance.

**TA311-9-1:** The manufacturer SHOULD initially target at least 10 - 12 participants, in order to ensure that at least 8 individuals are able to complete the testing sessions.

**TA311-10:** The manufacturer SHOULD ensure that at least 30 test participants are able to complete the testing session.

**TA311-11:** The manufacturer SHOULD include detailed tables of all participant demographics, whether or not they completed the test, as an appendix to the test report.

**TA311-12:** The manufacturer SHALL report the test results for all participants, whether or not they completed the test, using the Common Industry Format.

**TA311-13:** The manufacturer SHOULD use the Modified CIF Template for manufacturers as a template and guidance for the semantics, content and testing.

**TA311-14:** Manufacturers MAY define their own testing protocols for the summative usability tests.

**TA311-15:** The Technical Data Package submitted to the EAC for national certification SHALL contain the summative Usability Test Report.

**TA311-16:** The summative usability tests SHALL measure and report metrics for efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction as defined in the ISO/CIF standard (ISO/IEC 25062:2006).

**TA311-17:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests, conducted by the manufacturer, SHALL be realistic.

**TA311-17-1:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD look like a real ballot, such as the NIST test ballot.

**TA311-17-2:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD have 12 contests.

**TA311-17-3:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD have 2 ballot questions.

**TA311-17-4:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD have 5 propositions.

**TA311-17-5:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD have at least one multiple-vote contest.

**TA311-17-6:** The test ballot used in the summative usability tests SHOULD have at least one write-in contest.

**TA311-18:** The test script used in the summative usability tests, conducted by the manufacturer, SHALL be realistic.

**TA311-18-1:** The test script SHALL enable testing of all valid operations (as specified in the test assertions for 3.1.4bii-1 through 3.1.4bii-9) for the voter interface under test.

**TA311-19:** The testing environment for the summative usability tests, conducted by the manufacturer, SHALL be realistic.

**TA311-19-1:** The testing environment SHOULD be set up as it would be in a polling place.

**TA311-20:** The summative usability tests conducted by the manufacturer MAY use the NIST medium complexity test ballot.

**TA311-21:** The manufacturer SHALL ensure that the summative usability documentation/report is included in the TDP.

**TA311-22:** The manufacturer SHALL ensure that the summative usability documentation/report conforms to the formatting and content requirements of the Common Industry Format (CIF).

Information technologyVoting systems

### HEADQUARTERS

301-975-2000

Webmaster | Contact Us | Our Other Offices

TwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramYouTubeGiphyRSS FeedMailing List

Feedback

            -  Site Privacy 
            -  Accessibility 
            -  Privacy Program 
            -  Copyrights 
            -  Vulnerability Disclosure 
            -  No Fear Act Policy 
            -  FOIA 
            -  Environmental Policy 
            -  Scientific Integrity 
            -  Information Quality Standards 
            -  Commerce.gov 
            -  Science.gov 
            -  USA.gov 
            -  Vote.gov