College Pollworker & Mock Election Grants; 2010 Accessible Voting Technology Initiative; 2010 Military Heroes Initiative Grant; 2010 Testing & Auditing Grant

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With the recent opinion issued to EAC advisory boards, we received a lot of questions about which activities we are still working on. EAC employees continue to work

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How many states participate in EAC’s voting certification process?

Thirty-five states rely on some part of the federal testing and certification program.

• 12 states require federal certification of their voting systems
• 10 states require testing to federal standards
• 13 states require testing by a laboratory that has been accredited by the federal government

In addition, states and many local election officials use the information EAC generates and shares as a baseline for testing, ultimately saving them time and money. For more information, see the Overview of State Requirements & the Federal Voting System Program.

Every week we get questions about registering to vote. Recent questions include:

• How do you register to vote?
• I'm moving right before an election. Can I still vote?
• How do I vote if I've moved?

You can register using the process in the state where you live or by using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Please note that registration requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state to find out what is required. Voter registration does not move with you, so you will have to complete a new voter registration form to update your new address. Read more about moving and registering to vote. For more information about re-registering in the jurisdiction of your new address, visit your state’s election office website.

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With the resignations of two EAC commissioners, we are receiving lots of questions about which activities require a Commission decision. EAC employees continue to work according to existing policies and procedures that have been adopted by the Commission. For example, the Commission adopted the Voting System Certification and Testing Manual, which delegates the tasks of testing, certifying and decertifying voting equipment to the staff. The Commission acts as the appeal body.

A quorum (at least three commissioners) is required to determine new EAC policies, defined as “high level determinations, setting an overall agency goal/objective or otherwise setting rules, guidance or guidelines at the highest level.” Examples include holding formal public meetings, adopting new policies, issuing formal advisory opinions and accrediting EAC voting system testing laboratories. A quorum is also required to modify or update the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, National Voter Registration Act regulations and the National Voter Registration form.

For more information about EAC procedures and policies, read the Strategic Plan 2009-2014, EAC’s Roles and Responsibilities document and the Help America Vote Act.

Still have questions? Send us a note or comment here.
 

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We blog questions posed to EAC and our answers every Monday. Submit questions or comments here, use the comment form or share on Twitter @EACgov.

Can you register to vote using a post office box as your address?
If you are using the National Mail Voter Registration Form, you must use your legal address, which does not include a post office box. If the applicant lives in a rural area and does not have a street address, the national form provides a map in which they can indicate the location of his or her residence. Most states also require people to provide their legal address if they are registering to vote. Go here to access the national form, or visit your state’s election office to learn more.

Every week we get questions about what to do if a voter has moved. Recent questions include:

• Can I vote if I've moved?
• Do I need to reregister to vote if I move?
• Do I need to register to vote again if I move within the same state?

Voter registration does not move with you, so you will have to complete a new voter registration form to update your new address. Read more about moving and registering to vote. For more information about re-registering in the jurisdiction of your new address, visit your state’s election office website. You can register using the process in the state where you live or by using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Please note that registration requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state to find out what is required.

Who appoints EAC commissioners?
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 specifies that commissioners are nominated by the President on recommendations from the majority and minority leadership in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

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We blog questions posed to EAC and our answers every Monday. Submit questions or comments here, use the comment form or share on Twitter @EACgov.

Who pays for EAC’s voting system certification process?

The Voting System Testing and Certification Program is part of EAC’s operating budget. In Fiscal Year 2011, the Voting System Testing and Certification’s budget was $1.3 million, which funds all program activities, including expenses related to the certification process.

It is important to note that voting system vendors pay test labs directly. EAC does not have the legal authority to collect money from voting system manufacturers to pay for the testing of voting systems (see 31 U.S.C. §3302(b), Miscellaneous Receipts Act). For more information about EAC’s Voting System Testing and Certification Program, including a list of accredited test labs, go here.

What is EAC’s social media policy?

EAC’s social media policy and Twitter procedures are available online in the Resource Library. Also see EAC’s blog code of conduct.

What are the social media plans and policies of election officials?

For more information about social media policies and plans used by election officials, visit our collection of social media links and follow the most comprehensive Twitter list of election officials. Also, view EAC’s roundtable about social media and election administration, which features election officials who are active social media users: Voting Goes Viral. Using New Media to Manage an Election and Communicate with Voters.

How do I register to vote in the United States?

You can register using the process in the state where you live or by using the national mail voter registration form. Please note that registration requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state to find out what is required.
 

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