Election Management Guidelines

Election Management Guidelines: Introduction
The EMGs provide a comprehensive set of election resources to assist State and local election officials in effectively managing and administering elections. The nineteen chapters cover a wide spectrum of election administration subjects ranging from procedures conducted prior to an election to post-election management. A few of the topics covered include: absentee voting; voting system management; poll workers; polling places and vote centers; military and overseas voters; office administration; and community outreach. The EMGs are designed to be accessible to election officials at all levels.

EMG Chapter 1: Certification
EAC is responsible for issuing voluntary voting system standards and testing and certifying voting systems. This chapter reviews the early history of EAC’s Testing and Certification Program, including an overview of the program's Manual and Methodology. Currently, four voting systems and two modifications have been certified through EAC’s Testing and Certification Program.

EMG Chapter 2: System Security
This chapter reviews the factors election officials might consider to enhance voting system security. The discussion includes software security related to installation, monitoring, networking, and transmitting results. It also includes a section about possible policies and procedures for promoting system security among elections office staff, vendor personnel, and the public, as well as tips on password maintenance.

EMG Chapter 3: Physical Security
This chapter references the standards, procedures, and actions election officials might take to protect voting systems and related facilities and equipment from natural and environmental hazards, tampering, vandalism, and theft. This chapter includes sections about conducting a security review, issues with paper ballots, personnel, voting equipment, and peripheral devices. It also highlights potential security concerns at various points during the election process.

EMG Chapter 4: Acceptance Testing
Acceptance testing of voting systems is perhaps the most important function that local election officials conduct in order to ensure the security and accuracy of their elections. This chapter covers acceptance testing for optical scan ballot counters, touch screen voting stations, and end-to-end voting. Additionally, a sample of how to conduct touch screen acceptance testing procedures is provided.

EMG Chapter 5: Ballot Building
Easily understood ballots are important for a successful election. This chapter discusses issues common to all types of ballots (paper-based and electronic) and highlights specific considerations for touch screen ballots, optical scan ballots, and audio ballots. It concludes with information about testing and validating of the ballots before use in an election.

EMG Chapter 6: Pre-Election and Parallel Testing
This chapter reviews pre-election Logic and Accuracy (L&A) testing, which is the act of testing every ballot style and every component of the voting system prior to the election. The chapter also includes sections about parallel testing before and during Election Day and post-election testing for election officials to consider. Testing helps to ensure that elections are administered in a fair, accurate, and transparent manner.

EMG Chapter 7: Absentee Voting and Vote by Mail
Ballots are cast by mail in every State. However, the management of absentee voting and vote by mail varies through the nation based on State law. Differences relate to State laws, rules and regulations that control which voters can request a ballot by mail. This chapter provides information including and specific procedures on ballot preparation, mailing, reception, processing, storage, and security.

EMG Chapter 8: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Military and overseas voters face unique challenges in registering to vote, requesting and receiving a blank ballot, and returning their voted ballots. The Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ensures the rights of absent uniformed services and overseas voters to register to vote and to cast absentee ballots for Federal offices. This chapter covers the basics for anyone wishing to understand overseas voting, its challenges along with resources for local election officials. This chapter was published before the MOVE Act was signed into law in October 2009.

EMG Chapter 9: Polling Place and Vote Center Management
Polling places and vote centers provide locations at which registered voters are able to cast a ballot at an in-person facility. This chapter gives information on locating sites, reviews the recommended guidelines for polling places based on the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, including locating polling places, inspection requirements, and detailed step-by-step suggestions for evaluating potential polling places.