Election Management Guidelines

The Election Management Guidelines provide state and local election officials with practical information to support election administration. Each chapter covers a key area of election administration and includes guidance, examples, and tips that election officials can adapt to their jurisdiction.

Download the Election Management Guidelines (PDF, 8.6 MB)

To request physical copies, email [email protected].  

Chapters

Select a chapter below to open the Election Management Guidelines at the beginning of that chapter.

• Chapter 1: Elections Office Administration
  Standard operating procedures, project management, budgeting, records retention and disposal, facilities management, election calendars, and staffing. The chapter also addresses election office technology, including voter registration databases, electronic poll books, and election night reporting.
• Chapter 2: Contingency Planning
  A five-step process for developing a contingency plan, from setting a goal to implementing an action plan. 
• Chapter 3: Accessibility
  Accessibility throughout the election process for voters with disabilities and voters who need language assistance. The chapter addresses staff and poll worker training, outreach, website accessibility, curbside voting, voting by mail, and voting in long-term care facilities.
• Chapter 4: Building Community Partnerships
  Building and maintaining partnerships with government agencies, civic organizations, high schools, language minority communities, and the disability community. The chapter also addresses how to manage and recognize community partners.
• Chapter 5: Communicating with the Public
  Developing a communication strategy around the election calendar and sharing information with voters and the news media. The chapter also addresses official websites, social media, crisis communication, and evaluating communication efforts.
• Chapter 6: System Security
  Voting system software security, trusted installation, networking, transmission of unofficial results, and audit data. The chapter also addresses policies and procedures for managing election office staff and vendor access to voting systems.
• Chapter 7: Physical Security
  Security reviews, personnel security, elections office security, and voting equipment storage and inventory control. The chapter also addresses the security of paper ballots, equipment transport, ballot drop boxes, and voting equipment during early voting, on Election Day, and after the election.
• Chapter 8: Voting System Certification
  The history of federal voting system standards, the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG), and the EAC Testing and Certification Program. The chapter also explains federal, state, and local roles in voting system certification.
• Chapter 9: Acceptance Testing
  Contract considerations, acceptance testing for different types of voting equipment, and end-to-end voting system testing. The chapter also addresses verification of hardware, election management system software, and voting system functionality.
• Chapter 10: Ballot Building
  The three parts of ballot building: data, design, and distribution. The chapter also addresses paper ballot layout and instructions, digital and audio ballot design, and review of ballots before distribution.
• Chapter 11: Pre-Election Testing
  Logic and accuracy (L&A) testing of ballot styles and voting system components before an election. The chapter also addresses test planning, procedures, and review of results.
• Chapter 12: Absentee Voting and Vote-by-Mail
  The four general categories of mail voting and the stages of the mail ballot process, from preparation and mailing through ballot return, review, and tabulation. The chapter also addresses ballot drop boxes, audit trails, storage and security, voter education, and signature verification.
• Chapter 13: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
  Federal requirements for military and overseas voters, including requirements under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. This chapter also provides frequently asked questions, information on communicating with military and overseas voters, and resources for local election officials.
• Chapter 14: Voting Location Management
  Types of voting locations, site selection, and accessibility assessments, including measurement guidance and temporary accessibility solutions. The chapter also addresses the use of geographic information systems (GIS), voting location and ballot drop box placement, signage, parking and traffic control, and distribution of supplies and equipment.
• Chapter 15: Provisional Ballots
  Federal and state requirements for provisional voting, including procedures, poll worker training, administration during early voting and on Election Day, and the tracking and canvassing of provisional ballots.
• Chapter 16: Documentation and Audit Trail
  Types of election documentation and documentation practices throughout the election cycle. The chapter addresses election management and voting systems, election setup, logic and accuracy testing, mail and early voting, voting location supplies and equipment, and the canvass.
• Chapter 17: Post-Election Audits
  Traditional, risk-limiting, and procedural audits. The chapter also addresses timelines, training, supplies and templates, costs, security, transparency, and the finalization of audits.
• Chapter 18: Canvassing and Certifying an Election
  Canvass policies and procedures, types of canvass boards, election observers, and preparing for and conducting the canvass. The chapter also addresses canvass documentation, certification of election results, and communication about post-election processes.
• Chapter 19: Recounts
  Recount policies and procedures, including timelines, staffing, training, location, supplies, costs, security, and materials for the public. The chapter also addresses how to conduct and finalize a recount and includes a sample tally sheet.

Additional EAC Resources

Explore additional EAC resources, tools, and guidance for election officials.