Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) are a set of specifications and requirements against which voting systems can be tested to determine if they meet required standards. On February 10, 2021, the EAC's Commissioners adopted the newest VVSG standard, version 2.0. While the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandates the EAC to develop and maintain these requirements, adhering to the VVSG is voluntary except in select states that require it by law.
The EAC has developed resources to support election officials in communicating about the continued security and certification of VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 certified voting systems.
VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 Certified Voting Systems Will Continue to be Certified and Secure
All EAC-certified voting systems, no matter if they are certified to VVSG 1.0 or 1.1, are secure. Election officials may still use or procure systems that have been certified to VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 unless otherwise dictated by individual state statute.
The EAC will continue to accept applications for voting systems to be tested against VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 until November 15, 2023. After that point, VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 will be deprecated, and all applications for voting systems to be newly certified by the EAC must be for VVSG 2.0 or limited maintenance modifications to existing EAC-certified systems.
Deprecation Does Not Mean Decertification of Voting Systems Certified to VVSG 1.0 and 1.1.
Voting systems will not be decertified by the EAC as the result of VVSG deprecation. Election officials may continue to use or procure voting systems that have been certified to VVSG 1.0 and 1.1 in accordance with state or local law, even once depreciation occurs.
Path to VVSG 2.0 Certification for New Voting Systems
Enacting the VVSG 2.0 is an important step to enhance U.S. election security, which is a national security imperative. With the accreditation of both Voting System Test Labs (VSTL) in November and December 2022, the VVSG 2.0 is now fully implemented.
Currently, there are no voting systems certified to VVSG 2.0. It will take time for new systems to be developed, certified, and fielded for use in elections, particularly in an environment of constrained funding for state and local election offices. As of March 2023, one system has been submitted to the EAC that is currently being tested to VVSG 2.0.
EAC Resources on VVSG Deprecation to Share with Voters
Secure Elections Toolkit - The Secure Elections Toolkit, and its accompanying materials, are intended to assist election officials when informing candidates, policy makers, media, stakeholders, and the public of the multi-layered approach used to secure elections. This includes how to share information about election security in their jurisdictions and components of the EAC Testing and Certification program. Download customizable social media graphics via Canva.com.
EAC Testing and Certification Factsheet – The printable EAC Testing and Certification Factsheet explains the purpose of the EAC’s national voluntary voting system certification program and what it means for voting systems to be certified by the EAC.